New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that her country would welcome “the multi-faceted alliances that Australia is building, including QUAD (Australia, India, USA and Japan) and AUKUS (Military Partnership”). Australia, UK and USA. ) as long as its activities are in line with regional values, remain transparent, and aim to maintain peace and stability.

“New Zealand does not need to participate in such alliances as we have stable bilateral relations (with all countries) in the region,” she said at a press conference during her visit to Australia. She also pointed to the importance of enhancing the role of the Pacific island states in shaping the regional agenda, primarily in the areas of climate and economic security.

Ardern noted that “there’s been a lot of talk in the Pacific region lately, but our island neighbors don’t have much room to speak out,” voicing her belief that this was an occasion to strengthen relations with China. . “Many (Pacific island) countries have decided to create effective mechanisms for ensuring security and economic stability through cooperation with China,” she added.