Vietnam and New Zealand agree to soon resume direct flights
VOV.VN - Vietnam and New Zealand will soon resume direct flights disrupted due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in an effort to expand cooperation in economics-trade-investment, tourism, culture, sports, and people-to-people, among others.
The agreement was reached during talks in Wellington on March 11 between New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
The two sides agreed to increase visit exchanges, regularly deploy bilateral cooperation mechanisms, effectively implement the Vietnam - New Zealand Strategic Partnership Action Program for 2021-2024 and soon develop an Action Program for the new period.
Amid regional security complication, the two PMs stressed the need for the two countries to expand cooperation in the fields of cyber security, defense industry, and in preventing transnational crime, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
The two sides agreed to strive to raise their two-way trade turnover to US$2 billion in 2024 and US$3 billion in 2026 through appropriate measures, including facilitating market access and reducing trade barriers.
Chinh proposed that New Zealand continue to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products such as longans, lychees, bananas, and flowers to enter its market. He expected that New Zealand would increase investment in Vietnam in areas where New Zealand has potential and Vietnam has needs, such as smart agriculture, risk management, natural disasters, education - training, and renewable energy.
He highly appreciated the effectiveness of New Zealand’s ODA projects in Vietnam, and proposed that New Zealand continue to provide the Southeast Asian nation with technical assistance projects in the fields of agriculture, climate change response, innovation, and health.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister of New Zealand announced the implementation of phase 3 of a project to develop high quality fruit varieties worth NZD6.24 million.
The two sides also agreed to foster cooperation in the fields of education, labour, agriculture, climate change response, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
Chinh expected that New Zealand would increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, and New Zealand’s major universities would strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese universities, thereby meeting the country’s need to develop high-quality human resources.
Exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides underscored the need further coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms, and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Chinh thanked New Zealand for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2023-2025. He congratulated New Zealand on successfully assuming the role of Chairman of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) 2023, and affirmed that Vietnam would actively promote practical cooperation programs between ASEAN and New Zealand as the coordinator of ASEAN - New Zealand relations for 2024-2027.
Luxon for his part affirmed that he would support and cooperate closely when Vietnam hosts the APEC Year 2027.
With regard to the East Sea issue, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters; not using force or threatening to use force; resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They consented to exchange, share information and strengthen maritime cooperation, striving to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and development.
Chinh invited Luxon to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time, and the invitation wa accepted with pleasure.
After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in the fields of education-training, economics-trade, and finance between the two countries’ ministries.
They also hosted a joint press briefing on the outcome of their talks, during which the two sides vowed to deepen Vietnam - New Zealand strategic partnership towards a new level moving forward.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife paid an official visit to New Zealand on March 10-11 at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
