Important statements expected during Ardern’s Vietnam visit: says Ambassador

Ambassador Dobson told VOV in an interview ahead of PM Ardern’s trip that the two countries have managed to maintain positive development momentum over recent years, including contact and exchanges at all levels, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son’s visit to New Zealand in September, 2021, just one month after New Zealand lifted its border restrictions, a sign that both sides are striving to make the most of opportunities following their Strategic Partnership upgrade in 2020.

The Strategic Partnership itself is built upon comprehensive co-operation across various fields, including trade, economics, agriculture, education, defense and security, development co-operation, and people-to-people exchanges. The visit therefore presents a prime opportunity for PM Ardern to reaffirm this solid foundation.

The visit, according to the diplomat, also represents an important opportunity for the two countries to reconnect and promote post-pandemic recovery, especially in fields such as economics, trade, and tourism. As a means of achieving this goal, accompanying PM Ardern on this visit will be the largest New Zealand business delegation ever assembled, covering many potential areas of investment co-operation with Vietnam.

During the visit, New Zealand will host a number of events, including a business dialogue and an AgriConnectioNZ exhibition to create a forum for businesses and research institutions of the two countries to share experience and enhance trade exchanges.

Furthermore, a number of important co-operation statements in the fields of agriculture, education, aviation, tourism, sports, and climate change response will be announced this time, revealed the Ambassador. In line with this, New Zealand highly appreciates the strong climate change commitments made by Vietnam, and it, as a partner, will do its utmost to support the country in this fight.

According to the diplomat, Vietnam and New Zealand are both open economies which are deeply integrating into the global economy. They are now members of three major free trade agreements - the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). They are also working together in regional frameworks such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Forum (EAS), Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM), and the upcoming Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

These extensive bilateral and multilateral economic connections will ensure the maintenance of supply chains and reduce barriers to international trade, explained Ambassador Dobson.

The Ambassador expressed her belief with a range of advantages and opportunities on hand, there remains ample room for both countries to raise bilateral trade to US$2 billion and beyond by 2024.