Kuala Lumpur, May 13 -- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn has called for deeper cooperation between Southeast Asia and New Zealand in the face of escalating global trade tensions and shifting power dynamics. In a special address at the University of Auckland to mark five decades of the ASEAN - New Zealand partnership, he warned that the international system is undergoing profound transformation, citing increasing protectionism, tariff disputes among major economies, and a weakening commitment to open trade. He cited that recent tariff escalations by major economies have sent shockwaves across global supply chains and financial markets. The world is facing intensifying geopolitical tensions, accelerating climate change, disruptive t...