New Zealand considers Vietnam an important partner regionally

Kiro welcomed Chinh’s visit which she said would help further the Vietnam – New Zealand strategic partnership. She spoke highly of Vietnam’s increasing role regionally and globally, especially in Southeast Asia, and affirmed that New Zealand considers Vietnam an important partner in the region.

Chinh briefed his host on the outcome of his March 11 talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, noting that bilateral relations have developed expansively and substantially, particularly following the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2020.

He said the two sides still have much room to promote the Strategic Partnership, in accordance with the interests of the two peoples, for peace, stability and development in the region.  

In this spirit, the two sides agreed to deepen Vietnam - New Zealand relations in all fields, promote people-to-people exchanges, bring into full play the role of their friendship associations, and soon resume direct flights.

Both Vietnam and New Zealand should exert a greater effort to make breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of economics-trade-investment, education-training, green economy, sustainable development, environmental protection, cultural exchanges and employment, he said.

Chinh suggested that New Zealand continue to create conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and study in their host country.

Kiro acknowledged Chinh’s proposal, saying the Vietnamese community has over the years joined hands to contribute to building New Zealand and enriching national identity.

The same day, PM Pham Minh Chinh met with Gerry Brownlee, speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

Chinh proposed that both countries facilitate market access for their key products, including banana and passion fruit of Vietnam and kiwi and cherry of New Zealand. He underscored the need for both sides to enhance maritime and aviation connections, and promote cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange.

He encouraged the two countries’ legislative bodies to increase the exchange of visit to share experience in policymaking and supreme supervision, thereby supporting the two governments in realizing signed cooperation agreements.

Brownlee welcomed Chinh’s proposals, saying such visit exchanges would not only help ramp up cooperation in existing areas but also expand into new ones such as climate change response, energy transition, digital transformation and digital economy.

He praised Vietnamese expatriates’ contributions to local society and said the New Zealand House of Representatives supports the issuance of long-term visas for Vietnamese citizens.

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, and agreed that Vietnam and New Zealand should further support each other at international organizations, including the United Nations and ASEAN-led mechanisms (ASEAN), as well as multilateral parliamentary forums.