The New Zealand government has announced that it has appointed Stuart Calman, the deputy head of its mission at its embassy in Beijing, as the country’s new ambassador to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) based in Jakarta, Indonesia. “Aotearoa New Zealand and ASEAN share a strong legacy of working together to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” said New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand. “We have long been a supporter of ASEAN and ASEAN-centred architecture, which has been pivotal to the long-term stability and growth of the region. “During my visit to Jakarta last year, I was able to grow this partnership through meeting Sec-Gen Dato Lim Jock Hoi and ASEAN Permanent Representatives, where we discussed our work together on issues including recovery from COVID-19, climate change, and regional resilience,” Mahuta said in a release. Western democracies, including …