The two PMs noted with pleasure the fine development of two-way friendship and multi-faceted cooperation.

PM Dung emphasised the significance of the joint statement on comprehensive partnership issued during Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to New Zealand and suggested both sides should build a concrete action plan to carry out the relationship.

Sharing the same view with the Vietnamese counterpart, PM Key confirmed that the two countries have huge potential for boosting cooperation, especially in trade, investment, education and training, tourism and coping with climate change.

He went on to emphasise that the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement that will become effective in early next year will help promote the Vietnam-New Zealand multi-faceted cooperation.

PM Dung took the occasion to thank the New Zealand Government for its assistance to Vietnamese victim of storm Ketsana, recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status and reception of 300 Vietnamese workers under the vacation work programme.

PM Dung invited his New Zealand counterpart to visit Vietnam in 2010 on the occasion of the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and New Zealand and between New Zealand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). PM Key accepted the invitation with pleasure and invited PM Dung to visit New Zealand at a convenient time.

On the evening of October 24, PM Dung attended a banquet hosted by the Thai Premier and his wife in honour of heads of delegations to the 15^th ASEAN Summit.