The announcement was made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon at a joint press conference following their successful talks on February 26.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh once again welcomed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on his official visit to Vietnam and participation in the ASEAN Future Forum 2025. He highlighted the significance of this visit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand, marking the beginning of a new phase of deeper and broader cooperation between the two nations.

According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, their meeting was open, candid, sincere, and built on mutual understanding. Both sides acknowledged that, following more than five decades of diplomatic ties, 16 years as comprehensive partners, and five years as strategic partners, bilateral relations had developed extensively and were well-positioned for a new phase of growth. As a result, the two countries agreed to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader stated that this new framework would strengthen political trust and deepen Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation, showing the shared aspirations of both peoples while respecting international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and each other’s political systems. It would also make positive contributions to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

Under this new comprehensive strategic partnership, bilateral ties will see "five key enhancements": stronger and more strategic political trust; more substantive cooperation in defenve and security; closer and more effective economic, trade, and investment collaboration; the elevation of science, technology, and climate change cooperation as a new pillar of bilateral relations; and deeper people-to-people ties through enhanced cooperation in human resource development, labor, and tourism. The two sides also encouraged airlines from both countries to launch direct flights, as Vietjet has already done.

PM Chinh noted that both sides concurred to boost coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms. They also pledged to promote dialogue, build trust among nations, and uphold ASEAN’s central role in shaping the evolving regional architecture.

Furthermore, both leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea (South China Sea), resolving disputes through peaceful means based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), enhancing maritime cooperation while striving to make the East Sea a region of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation, and development.

PM Chinh emphasized that with today's formal upgrade of bilateral relations, Vietnam and New Zealand have entered a new chapter in their partnership. This enhanced cooperation framework will ensure more substantive, effective, and sustainable collaboration across various fields, meeting the aspirations and interests of both nations and contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development. The two governments are committed to effectively carrying out this new framework.

He also affirmed that as the coordinator of ASEAN-New Zealand relations, Vietnam would continue working to strengthen bilateral ties and advocate for an upgraded ASEAN-New Zealand partnership for mutual benefit, peace, cooperation, and regional development.

New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon reiterated his nation’s strong commitment to deepening its close relationship with Vietnam and expressed optimism about future cooperation. He highlighted the two nations' achievements over the past 50 years, demonstrating their shared commitment and strong bonds within ASEAN for regional cooperation and prosperity.

During their talks, the two leaders discussed key priorities, particularly boosting economic and trade cooperation to improve people’s livelihoods. Praising Vietnam’s robust development, he noted that bilateral trade had increased by 40% over the past five years and described Vietnam as an attractive investment destination. He also hailed recent achievements in supply chain connectivity and business partnerships, especially in agriculture, fisheries, and renewable energy, and expressed interest in expanding collaboration in maritime affairs, education, defence, and security.

Christopher Luxon stressed that both nations shared a common vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. He affirmed New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Vietnam, advancing defence and security dialogues, and preparing for a visit by a New Zealand naval ship to Vietnam later this year.

On this occasion, he thanked Vietnam for inviting him to the ASEAN Future Forum, viewing it as an opportunity to contribute ideas on fostering a resilient and prosperous ASEAN region while aligning priorities between New Zealand, Vietnam, and ASEAN.

He noted that New Zealand’s ties with Vietnam and ASEAN had never been closer and expressed a strong desire to promote people-to-people exchanges as a crucial foundation for bilateral relations. He also highlighted plans to augment cooperation in education, tourism, and scholarships.

PM Christopher Luxon expressed his hope for continued collaboration with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in realizing the potential of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Eight cooperation agreements announced

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed the announcement and exchange of eight cooperation documents between the two sides.

These included the announcement of Vietjet’s fifth freedom traffic rights for flights between Vietnam and New Zealand, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s donation of 10 Airvo 2 high-flow ventilators worth VND1 billion to Bach Mai Hospital, and a memorandum of understanding between FV Hospital Vietnam and Orion/McCrae Hospital on digital transformation and quality enhancement, valued at approximately VND120 billion over the next five years.

In addition, an agreement on the procurement of safe and environmentally friendly agricultural chemicals worth VND13 billion was signed between Asia Pacific Biochemicals and Animal Control Products.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed the announcement and exchange of eight cooperation documents between the two sides.

These included the announcement of Vietjet’s fifth freedom traffic rights for flights between Vietnam and New Zealand, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s donation of 10 Airvo 2 high-flow ventilators worth VND1 billion to Bach Mai Hospital, and a memorandum of understanding between FV Hospital Vietnam and Orion/McCrae Hospital on digital transformation and quality enhancement, valued at approximately VND120 billion over the next five years.

In addition, an agreement on the procurement of safe and environmentally friendly agricultural chemicals worth VND13 billion was signed between Asia Pacific Biochemicals and Animal Control Products.

PM Chinh hosts welcome ceremony for New Zealand counterpart in Hanoi

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace on February 26 afternoon for his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon, who is on an official visit to Vietnam and attending the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum from February 25-28.