Philippines, New Zealand Convene Inaugural Maritime Dialogue

(L-R): DFA Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez and New Zealand MFAT Divisional Manager Georgina Roberts

PASAY 13 June 2025 — The Philippines and New Zealand successfully convened its inaugural Track 1 maritime dialogue in Pasay on 06 June 2025, which affirmed the two countries’ enduring and dynamic bilateral relationship as the foundation of new fronts in maritime and marine cooperation.

The inaugural maritime dialogue was co-chaired by Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Louis Alferez of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and Asia Regional Divisional Manager Georgina Roberts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. 

The meeting signified the strengthening of the Philippines and New Zealand’s shared commitment to meet the maritime challenges facing the region, and ensuring free, open, and prosperous seas for all.  Both sides comprehensively examined existing areas of bilateral cooperation in the maritime domain and the marine environment, and explored new areas of collaboration.

In their discussions, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of upholding UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and maintaining the rules-based order especially in the Indo-Pacific. They emphasized their mutual commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the proper management of the situation at sea, while also expressing concern over actions in the South China Sea that affect regional peace and stability.

The two sides also discussed ways to deepen exchange of views on global marine issues, intensify collaboration in multilateral fora and in developing joint pathways for engaging Pacific Island States in capacity-building for marine science, marine environmental protection and the promotion of UNCLOS.

Preceding the meeting was a Track 1.5 dialogue that allowed academic institutions from the two countries to have a comprehensive exchange of views on the political, security, legal and environmental aspects of the challenges in the South China Sea. Philippine academics from UP-IMLOS, UP - National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS), and FACTS Asia represented the Philippine side, while   academics from Victoria University in Wellington and the Asia-New Zealand Foundation represented the New Zealand side.

The Philippines has established bilateral maritime dialogues to serve as a platform for comprehensive and substantive discussions on common maritime and ocean concerns, especially on maritime security, marine environmental protection, illegal fishing and multilateral cooperation. Currently, the Philippines has 11 maritime dialogue partners.

The impetus for a maritime dialogue emerged out of the productive meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter’s official visit to the Philippines in April 2024. The dialogue is also considered an auspicious step to celebrating the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Philippines and New Zealand, and a key element of the goal to establish the two countries’ Comprehensive Partnership by 2026. END

The Philippine and New Zealand delegations gather for a group photo.