Parliamentary ties help pave way for closer Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation
VOV.VN - Vietnam and New Zealand will make parliamentary exchanges more practical, including through legislative cooperation, experience sharing and the creation of a favuorable legal framework for cooperation in agriculture, education, investment and people-to-people ties.
The agreement was reach during a meeting in Auckland on August 13 between Gerry Brownlee, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (Parliament), and To Lam, Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, who is on a three-day state visit to New Zealand.
Brownlee welcomed his guest, saying the visit would contribute to taking the Vietnam-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into a new phase of more substantive and effective cooperation.
The New Zealand Parliament Speaker congratulated Vietnam on the successful election of the 16th National Assembly and spoke highly of the country’s socio-economic achievements, institutional reforms, and progress in science, technology, innovation and international integration.
He also expressed his wish for New Zealand to remain a destination for young Vietnamese people to study and work, while highlighting the potential for broader cooperation in defence and security, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
Parliamentary cooperation as a practical channel
The two sides noted that the rapidly changing international environment and development requirements facing both countries made closer cooperation increasingly important.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand is a natural choice, driven by the interests of their peoples, development needs and shared responsibility for peace and stability in the region and beyond.
He appreciated the contribution of the New Zealand Parliament to the country's development and thanked it for supporting parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
He welcomed the presence of a Vietnamese-origin lawmaker at the meeting, saying this was a vivid reflection of the Vietnamese community's contribution to bilateral relations and parliamentary links.
The Vietnamese leader proposed that the two sides increase exchanges among their legislative bodies and specialised parliamentary agencies, as well as exchanges through other channels, to enhance mutual understanding and share experience.
He also called on the New Zealand Parliament to continue supporting the implementation of bilateral agreements and help create a favourable legal framework for cooperation in areas where Vietnam has demand and New Zealand has strengths.
From legislative links to economic cooperation
Agriculture was highlighted as an area where parliamentary and policy cooperation could help create further opportunities.
The Vietnamese leader proposed expanding cooperation in smart, high-tech, clean and green agriculture, including joint development, co-creation and production for domestic and international markets. The approach would move cooperation beyond conventional trade toward greater collaboration in developing products and production capacity.
Education and people-to-people exchanges were another focus of the meeting. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam thanked New Zealand for its support in training Vietnamese students and officials, including in English-language education and fields in which New Zealand has expertise.
He said New Zealand’s strong universities and research institutions could offer useful experience for Vietnam as it works to reform education and promote English as a second language.
The two sides agreed on the need to improve connectivity between the two countries, including through the establishment of a direct air route or the most convenient possible connection.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam asked the New Zealand Parliament to continue supporting favorable conditions for Vietnamese people living, studying and doing business in the country.
The Vietnamese community, he said, could make further contributions to New Zealand's socio-economic development and serve as a bridge between the two countries.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam arrived in Auckland on August 12 for a three-day state visit to New Zealand at the invitaton of Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Vietnam, New Zealand put education at heart of future cooperation
VOV.VN - Vietnam and New Zealand are looking to expand education cooperation from traditional academic exchanges to joint training, research, innovation and skills development, helping prepare a high-quality workforce for the digital, green and knowledge economies.
