WELLINGTON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters traveled to Singapore on Wednesday to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum and East Asia Summit (EAS) Ministerial Meetings.

"The Asia-Pacific region is of great importance to New Zealand," Peters, who is also deputy prime minister, said in a statement.

ASEAN is one of New Zealand's most important trading relationships, and as close neighbors, the member states are key partners in the region's security and stability, Peters said.

"The region faces some serious challenges to its security and prosperity, including in the areas of nuclear proliferation, terrorism and cyber security. These meetings are a chance to discuss how we address these challenges collectively," he said.