GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and New Zealand agreed to lift bilateral ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," according to the South Korean presidential office on Thursday.
The two sides reached the agreement between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering here.
"New Zealand has become an important trading partner," Lee said. "As the international order becomes more complex, I hope the two countries cooperate and support each other for joint development," according to Yonhap news agency.
Luxon said the two countries are deepening ties under shared values in trade, security and people-to-people exchanges, noting that South Korea is New Zealand's fifth-largest trading partner.
South Korea and New Zealand established formal relations in 1962, and signed a free trade deal in 2015. ■