More room to foster New Zealand - Vietnam cooperation, says former Ambassador
VOV.VN - Former New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam James Kember has emphasized that while Vietnam - New Zealand relations have achieved significant milestones, there is still considerable room to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Kember, in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency ahead of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s Vietnam visit, noted that bilateral relations are built on strong cooperation in APEC, ASEAN, economic and trade relations, education, and defense.
Since the two countries upgraded their ties to a level of Strategic Partnership in 2020, Vietnam has undergone rapid growth, yet the full potential of the relationship remains untapped.
It is crucial for both countries to enhance mutual understanding and find common ground amid global political and economic uncertainties, said the diplomat, adding tariffs, trade barriers, and supply chain disruptions need to be addressed to maximize economic benefits.
According to Kember Vietnam and New Zealand have maintained government-level and institutional dialogues since 2008. Discussions in the Track 1.5 format at the end of 2024 helped examine and solidify common viewpoints. He stressed that rather than seeking new areas of cooperation, the focus should be on deepening existing valuable cooperation mechanisms.
The diplomat recalled that during a New Zealand visit in February 2025, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet discussed the upgrade of bilateral relations between Vietnam and New Zealand. In his speech at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington, Viet highlighted cooperation in technical advancements, the training of young scholars, and the strengthening of institutional links between research centers in New Zealand and Vietnamese organizations such as the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. These proposals were well received by the New Zealand side.
Kember also emphasized the need for concrete actions rather than just setting higher cooperation goals. In his opinions, both New Zealand and Vietnam are part of the Asia-Pacific region, so it is essential to find common ground and openly address differences.
Talking about ASEAN – New Zealand relations, the diplomat agreed that ASEAN plays a central role in maintaining regional peace and security. Cooperation in defence, combating transnational crime, and military education is all appropriately positioned within the ASEAN+ framework.
New Zealand therefore should continue strengthening ties with ASEAN, as well as individual ASEAN member states, such as Vietnam, he suggested, stressing that ongoing dialogues, research collaboration, and youth education are key to fostering a deeper understanding among key partners.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the second ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from February 25 - 28.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to visit Vietnam next week
VOV.VN - New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the second ASEAN Future Forum from February 25 to 28, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
