KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia and New Zealand said on Sept 2 that they plan to increase bilateral trade by 50 per cent by 2030 and will also review an existing free trade agreement.

       The two countries will eliminate non-tariff trade barriers that impede the flow of goods between their borders, said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.

       “We’re (also) working on e-certification and new customs cooperation to smooth flows at the border,” Mr Luxon said.

       The countries’ trade ministers will meet in 2025 to discuss reviewing the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, Mr Luxon said, without providing details on how they would increase trade by 50 per cent by 2030.

       He also said New Zealand would expand defence cooperation with Malaysia and was deploying one of its air force’s P8 Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to Butterworth in Malaysia’s northern Penang state, for a joint exercise.

       Datuk Seri Anwar and Mr Luxon also called for an immediate ceasefire in the 11-month conflict in Gaza and for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine to be found.

       Mr Luxon, who is on a three-day visit to Malaysia, said New Zealand and Malaysia had different positions on the Palestinian militant group Hamas but were working towards finding a peaceful resolution in the region.

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       “We both are very united in calling for an immediate ceasefire, getting the parties around the negotiating table, and finding a two-state solution,” he said.

       Mr Anwar has good relations with the political leadership of Hamas but has said he has no involvement in its military apparatus.

       New Zealand has designated Hamas as a terrorist entity in its entirety.

       Mr Anwar said prospects for a ceasefire did not look encouraging at present, saying there was a lack of commitment from countries, particularly the US, who could exert their influence to stop the conflict.

       “The only hope is to engage the United States to take a stronger stance,” Mr Anwar said.

       More than 40,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli military offensive on Gaza since Oct 7, when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250. REUTERS