Vietnam, New Zealand foreign ministers meet in Auckland

Relations between the two nations private sectors continues to expand with ever increasing collaboration in areas such as agri-business, clean technologies, disaster management, aviation, tourism, defence and education, said Vietnam Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Significant growth in commercial trade has been made since the formation of the Comprehensive Partnership and that trend is expected to continue under the ASEAN-Australia-NZ free trade agreement that came into force in 2012.

Currently the parties are negotiating a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that is expected to positively affect trade relations between the two nations private sectors, Foreign Minister Minh noted.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully in turn underscored the importance that New Zealand places in its Comprehensive Partnership and trade relations with Vietnam, noting specifically there is ample opportunity for increased collaboration by the countries farmers in the fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and farm raised seafood segments.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern and in particular noted the East Sea dispute and the importance of ensuring peace, stability, maritime freedom and security in the region, and resolving the matter in compliance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.