On 15 September 2025, Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave opening remarks at the “ASEAN - New Zealand Roundtable on the Green Agenda: Working Towards A Sustainable and Green Future” at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. The Roundtable was organised by the Department of ASEAN Affairs in Thailand's capacity as ASEAN Coordinator for Sustainable Development Cooperation. In attendance were more than 120 participants, including representatives from government agencies, academia, and the private sector from ASEAN Member States, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste as an observer, as well as ASEAN Secretariat, and ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD).

The Deputy Permanent Secretary underlined the importance of translating ASEAN - New Zealand cooperation on the Green Agenda into tangible outcomes, particularly in the areas of sustainable forest management, development of carbon markets in the region, cooperation in renewable energy and green innovation, as well as technological exchange. Mr. Bolbongse Vangphaen, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, highlighted the objectives of the Roundtable, which included deepening cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand on the Green Agenda, in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, as well as completing the ASEAN - New Zealand Plan of Action to Implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2021 - 2025. H.E. Mr. Jonathan Dale Kings, Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand, also delivered his remarks emphasizing the importance of enhancing cooperation on the Green Agenda, particularly in sustainable forest management, carbon markets, and renewable energy, which are key to building a sustainable region. He underscored that these efforts are especially significant as ASEAN and New Zealand commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations in 2025.

New Zealand experts from Ministry for the Environment, Ministry for Primary Industries, Bioeconomy Science Institute, CarbonClick, Toitū Envirocare, and New Zealand BioForestry, exchanged views and experiences and innovations in sustainable forest management, smart agriculture, carbon market, and renewable energy, and case studies on afforestation and nature-based investments through voluntary carbon markets, highlighting the role of Public - Private Partnerships (PPPs) in advancing the Green Agenda. Representatives from ASEAN Member States also exchanged views on how to adopt such best practices and ideas to the regional context and how to further strengthen cooperation in the Green Agenda towards a more sustainable and greener region. In addition, representatives from Thailand Environment Institute, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization, Siam Cement Group, KASIKORNBANK, and B. Grimm Power Public Co. Ltd. also expressed their views on how to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand, particularly in areas of carbon sequestration and renewable energy.

On 16 September 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise study visits for delegates from New Zealand, ASEAN Member States and other participants to visit EGAT Learning Center, B. Grimm BIP Power 1 & 2, and Bangkadi Industrial Park.