Prime Minister John Key will hold a summit with members of the Association of South East Asian Nations in Vietnam, in October.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who is in Vietnam for ASEAN-related meetings, says the summit will be the first time New Zealand and representatives of the 10-nation bloc have met in such a format.
He says it reflects the Government's commitment to strengthening the relationship with ASEAN members and the value they place on New Zealand as a key regional partner.
Mr McCully says ASEAN is now the country's third-largest trading market, with two-way trade worth around $10 billion last year.
