Kiwi PM meets PN, shares experience and challenges before taking over

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on his first official visit to Malaysia, met with Perikatan Nasional leaders.

In a Facebook post, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said Luxon had “shared his experiences and the political challenges he faced before assuming leadership.”

“(He also shared) the approaches he took to establish political stability in New Zealand,” he added.

Luxon (above, centre) a 54-year-old former businessperson, was sworn in as prime minister in November last year. The Conservative leader was also the opposition leader from 2021 to 2023.

According to Hamzah, the meeting also focused on enhancing economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations as New Zealand is Malaysia’s 28th largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to RM11.56 billion.

“We also touched on the potential and strategic value of Malaysia as a hub for the Asean economic market, with a population of over 600 million and a gross domestic product that is the fifth largest in the world.

“In addition, we discussed cooperation in the education sector, regional and international geopolitical issues, aspects of security and cross-border crime, as well as cultural diplomacy that both countries can engage in,” he added.

Also present at the meeting were Ronald Kiandee (head of the agriculture and food security portfolio), Mohd Radzi Jidin (head of the finance portfolio), Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (head of the foreign affairs portfolio), Khairil Nizam Khirudin (head of the transport portfolio) and Halimah Ali (head of the national unity portfolio).

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hosted an official luncheon for Luxon at Sri Perdana in Putrajaya.

At a joint press conference later, both leaders called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza and a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

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