NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon begins Vietnam visit
VOV.VN - New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arrived in Hanoi on February 25 afternoon, beginning an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Luxon was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, and other officials of the Vietnamese government.
New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford was also on hand to welcome the PM.
This is Luxon’s first visit to Vietnam in his capacity as New Zealand’s Prime Minister, serving as a reciprocal visit following Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to New Zealand in March 2024.
The February 25-28 visit holds significant importance as Luxon, accompanied by a delegation of leading businesses, is scheduled to meet with representatives from both the Vietnamese government and private sector.
Discussions will focus on bilateral relations, prospects for enhancing cooperation, especially in trade and investment, and exchanging views on a range of challenges both countries face in navigating the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.
Currently, two-ay trade between the two countries stands at approximately US$1.3 billion per year, and the two countries have set target of raising the figure to US$3 billion by 2026.
This year, Vietnam and New Zealand are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 - 2025) and the fifth anniversary of their strategic partnership.
As part of the visit, Luxon will attend the second ASEAN Future Forum that is getting underway in Hanoi on February 25 - 26. This forum, initiated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September 2023, is one of the largest multilateral events hosted by Vietnam in 2025.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 will focus on topics such as subregional cooperation, governance of emerging technologies, and ASEAN’s role in promoting peace in a fragmented world.
New Zealand media: Prime Minister Luxon upbeat about Vietnam visit
VOV.VN - The New Zealand Herald published an article on February 25 stating that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon continues his Southeast Asia pivot as he is leading a business delegation to embark on a three-day visit to Vietnam.
