Vietnam, New Zealand look towards stronger partnership

At the 11th Vietnam-New Zealand Political Consultation held in Wellington on March 18-19, the two sides said they would make greater efforts to boost capacity in response to non-traditional security challenges like cyber security, terrorism, money laundering and human trafficking, among others.

Vietnam highly appreciated New Zealand’s effective support for the country in the realms of education and training through granting graduate and post-graduate scholarships for Vietnamese students, and agriculture through improving export capacity for Vietnamese dragon fruit, longan, and tra fish.

During the meeting, they also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern and reached a consensus on closer cooperation at regional and international forums, particularly in ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms and frameworks, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the United Nations (UN). 

New Zealand voiced its support for Vietnam in performing the role of the ASEAN 2020 Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 tenure.

At the 26th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation and senior officials from ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed their strong relations and pledged to strengthen the ASEAN-New Zealand strategic partnership as well as effectively coordinating at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF).

They voiced support for rules-based multilateral trading system and said they will work to review and upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement, implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and complete negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Both sides consented to build an action plan for 2021-2025 as well as hold celebratory activities regarding the 45th anniversary of the establishment of their dialogue partnership in 2020.

New Zealand affirmed its support for the bloc’s central role in the regional structure that is open, transparent, inclusive and legally binding.
In addition, the ASEAN and New Zealand underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, non-militarisation, self-restraint and non-complication of the situation. All disputes must be settled based on international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also called for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiations to complete the Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters.

They praised developments in the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, including the positive outcomes of the second DPRK-USA summit held in Hanoi last month.

New Zealand backed the ASEAN’s efforts in dealing with humanitarian problem in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

On the occasion, Vietnam and other ASEAN member states expressed their sympathy to the New Zealand government and people over the shooting attacks that caused great fatalities to innocent civilians in Christchurch city. They affirmed solidarity with New Zealand and vehemently condemned terrorism and extreme violence in all forms.