During the phone call, PM Chinh once again expressed his delight and appreciation for the outcomes of Prime Minister Luxon’s official visit to Vietnam in February 2025, particularly the issuance of a Joint Statement on upgrading the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He proposed that both sides continue working closely to develop an Action Programme to carry out the new cooperation framework, turning their commitments and agreements into concrete outcomes and realizing the substance of the upgraded partnership.

The Vietnamese Government chief also informed his counterpart of Vietnam’s efforts in discussions with the US regarding reciprocal tariffs, including a phone call between Party General Secretary To Lam and US President Donald Trump on April 4. He outlined Vietnam’s policies aimed at facilitating two-way trade and supporting businesses in adapting to new challenges, such as preferential interest rates, credit support packages, tax and fee reductions, and administrative cost cuts.

He stressed that amid global economic and trade fluctuations, Vietnam remains calm and prepared, avoiding both panic and complacency, and stands ready to respond proactively under any circumstances.

The country’s approach is to engage in persistent, proactive dialogue and cooperation with the US and other partners to deal with difficulties based on the principle of harmonized interests and shared risks, while avoiding confrontation or unnecessary complication.

He also highlighted the opportunity for Vietnam to accelerate economic restructuring, green and digital transformation, explore new growth drivers, and continue diversifying export markets.

PM Chinh welcomed recent positive developments, notably President Trump’s announcement of a 90-day postponement of reciprocal tariffs on several trading partners, and affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to working with US agencies toward a cooperative trade framework that ensures mutual benefits and safeguards the legitimate interests of businesses and people in both countries.

He stressed the importance of promoting dialogue and mutual understanding, and stepping up cooperation through multilateral economic linkages.

On this basis, he proposed that Vietnam and New Zealand strengthen information exchange, cooperation, and coordination within shared trade frameworks, including the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He also called for stronger bilateral trade and investment ties under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, greater diversification of traded goods, and efforts to reach US$3 billion in trade by 2026.

In response, PM Christopher Luxon hailed his Vietnamese counterpart’s remarks, while affirming that Vietnam and New Zealand share common interests in maintaining a stable international trading system and uninterrupted supply chains to ensure sustainable national and global growth. He agreed on further boosting bilateral cooperation as well as engagement within multilateral frameworks.

The two PM reaffirmed their support for ASEAN’s centrality in regional affairs and their commitment to upholding an open, inclusive, fair, and rules-based multilateral trading system.

Vietnam, New Zealand sign multiple cooperation documents

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents in diplomacy, climate change, agriculture, healthcare, and education following their talks in Hanoi on February 26.