This week, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the second ASEAN Future Forum from February 25-28.
This year, Vietnam and New Zealand celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 - June 19, 2025) and 5 years of Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and a delegation of New Zealand business leaders will have a series of activities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh performed the Hongi (touching noses) ceremony during the welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese Prime Minister during his visit to New Zealand in March 2024. Photo: Nhat Bac
New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford said the visit was of particular significance. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has a very big agenda for Southeast Asia. His government has acted quickly to reset its foreign policy towards this strategic region. New Zealand identifies Vietnam as one of its most important partners in the region and globally.
Therefore, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit is not only to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries but also to strengthen, expand and develop relations with an important partner like Vietnam.
Ambassador Caroline Beresford likened: "If we consider a relationship as a fabric, the architecture of that relationship is like the threads woven together to create strength. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to Vietnam aims to strengthen and further tighten the ties between the two countries, especially in the context of the current unpredictable world."
New Zealand Ambassador Caroline Beresford.
According to the Ambassador, about 25 business leaders from New Zealand will accompany the Prime Minister on the visit, and the businesses will sign cooperation agreements with partners in Vietnam.
New Zealand hopes the visit will open up new business opportunities. "However, what I want to say is that we will continue to strengthen traditional areas of cooperation such as agriculture and education, but will apply New Zealand's new research, science and technology to add value to those areas; helping support Vietnam's economic growth as well as promoting the relationship between the two countries to new heights," the Ambassador emphasized.
The economy still depends heavily on agriculture, so New Zealand has applied many modern technologies to improve productivity and quality of agricultural products. New Zealand brands and products will also be consumed more and more in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Vietnam also produces products that New Zealand needs, including agricultural products. Vietnam has opened its market to New Zealand's commercial potatoes, frozen beef, kiwifruit, apples, pumpkins and strawberries.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visits Vietnamese agricultural products during her visit to Vietnam in November 2022.
New Zealand has licensed mangoes, dragon fruit, rambutans, lemons and grapefruits from Vietnam and is proposing to open its market to honey, pears, venison and elk meat. Vietnam has proposed to open its market to longan, lychee and cut flowers.
Ms. Caroline Beresford said that looking back over the past 50 years, the two countries have come a long way. New Zealand began diplomatic relations with Vietnam, providing education scholarships within the framework of the development program. Since then, bilateral relations have gradually developed with many new ties.
Today, this bond is much stronger than it was 50 years ago. Bilateral cooperation covers important areas such as politics, economics, agriculture, sustainable development, climate change, research, education, etc.
Last December, the two countries launched a new mechanism, the first Vietnam-New Zealand Maritime Dialogue. This step allows both sides to open up new avenues for dialogue on solutions to promote common interests in maritime issues and maritime cooperation.
In addition, the two countries also cooperate on regional issues of mutual concern, with a consistent approach in the spirit of supporting the international order and the rule of law. The two countries also support free and open trade for the prosperity of both countries.
Vietnam is moving towards a new era - the era of national growth . The Ambassador expressed his impression of the vision and discipline that Vietnam applies in policy making and implementation, especially economic growth.
Ambassador Caroline Beresford said that she has worked in foreign affairs for 25 years and worked in five countries, including the US, but has never seen a policy development approach as academic, rigorous and systematic as in Vietnam.
"When the New Zealand Prime Minister visits Vietnam, I will tell him that if he returns here in five years, he probably won't recognize Vietnam anymore. This is truly an inspiring country with a growth rate that amazes the world," the Ambassador added.
New Zealand looks forward to contributing to Vietnam's development story as a trusted partner and sincere friend.
Ambassador Caroline Beresford said New Zealand wants to contribute to Vietnam's development story.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will attend the second ASEAN Future Forum hosted by Vietnam, an event that New Zealand strongly supports.
“We thank Vietnam for taking this initiative to discuss the future of ASEAN, especially in the context of the instability and uncertainty that the region and the world are facing.
In New Zealand's view, ASEAN centrality is essential to maintaining stability and prosperity for all people in the region. New Zealand strongly supports ASEAN.
That is why our Prime Minister is particularly interested in attending this forum," Ambassador Caroline Beresford said.
Vietnamnet.vn
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