FM expects Vietnam, New Zealand to propel strategic partnership forward
VOV.VN - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has suggested Vietnam and New Zealand early finalize the signing of an action programme for 2021-2024 on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week to reinforce their strategic partnership.
His suggestion was made during a reception for New Zealand Ambassador Tridene Dobson in Hanoi on October 28, during which Minister Bui Thanh Son congratulated Tridene Dobson on her appointment as New Zealand's Ambassador to Vietnam and expressed his wish that the Ambassador would continue to further promote the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
Son also called for greater efforts to facilitate Vietnamese agro-fishery products’ penetration into the New Zealand market, towards the goal of elevating two-way trade to US$2 billion by 2024.
The Vietnamese diplomat called on New Zealand to maintain its official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam as well as scholarships for Vietnamese officials and students.
Ambassador Dobson, in turn, hailed Vietnam’s measures to contain and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic in a flexible and effective manner, saying her nation has also come up with similar strategies and measures.
The ambassador said she is working with New Zealand agencies on how to help Vietnam cope with COVID-19, and thanked the Southeast Asian nation for its support to New Zealand in the early days when the island nation took over the APEC Chairmanship in 2021.
New Zealand places importance on developing the strategic partnership with Vietnam across a variety of fields, she said, adding that her nation is carrying out many development programmes to help Vietnam respond to climate change, develop rural areas and improve women’s capacity.