NZ officials suggest upgrading ties with Vietnam
Senior officials from New Zealand have suggested Vietnam and their country work towards Strategic Partnership when meeting with Truong Thi Mai, head of the Mass Mobilisation Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee from October 18-20.
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The Vietnamese delegation also had working sessions with Mayor of Wellington City Justin Lester and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Maori Development and the New Zealand – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group.
During the meetings, senior officials from NZ spoke highly of the good progress of the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries since it was found in 2009. Since then, two-way trade has climbed nearly three-fold and a direct flight route has been launched between HCM City and Auckland.
The two nations have become an important partner to each other in multiple areas, working together towards peace and stability in the region. The officials also asked for effort from both sides to take the relation to Strategic Partnership.
Mai, for her part, praised the robust development of New Zealand in all fields. She said Vietnam always attaches importance to New Zealand in its foreign policy and looks forward to taking the Comprehensive Partnership to new height.
She also updated her hosts on the latest developments in the East Sea, expressing hope that New Zealand will coordinate closely with Vietnam, ASEAN and other involved parties in ensuring security and freedom of navigation and overflight there and pushing for the settlement of disputes in the sea via peaceful means in line with international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
While in the NZ, Mai and her entourage met representatives from the Vietnamese community and the staff of the Embassy of Vietnam.
