Mr. McCully’s visit is aimed at implementing the agreements between the two countries signed during the Communist Party Secretary General Nong Duc Manh’s visit to New Zealand in September 2009. It will also help to promote mutual cooperation in the future.

The New Zealand FM said that 2010 is a very important year for New Zealand-Vietnam relations as the two countries will celebrate the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The comprehensive partnership between the two countries has been significantly developed since its establishment in September 2009 and both sides are planning to put it further into practice.

New Zealand has now invested 18 projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of more than US$96 million.

Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$279 million in Novermber 2009, US$ 64 million of which came from Vietnam’s exports to New Zealand.

New Zealand has also approved the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and agreed to accept 300 Vietnamese labourers to the country.