New Zealand Prime Minister and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hold a joint press conference

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meet the press. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

In front of officials from both countries, Vietnamese, New Zealand and international reporters, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the two Prime Ministers had just had a very democratic, lively and especially successful meeting, in which both sides agreed to promote cooperation in all fields, aiming to upgrade the relationship between the two countries to a new level.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that in the spirit of construction and cooperation, the two sides had comprehensive discussions on cooperation areas and proposed directions to further develop the Vietnam - New Zealand Strategic Partnership in the coming time with the main contents being "stabilization and consolidation", "strengthening and expansion", and "acceleration and breakthrough".

In which: Stabilizing and consolidating political trust, strategic trust, political and diplomatic cooperation, creating a more solid foundation for bilateral relations; Strengthening and expanding cooperation on all important pillars of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, including economics - trade - investment, national defense and security, agriculture and people-to-people exchange; Accelerating and making breakthroughs in science and technology cooperation, innovation, green economic development, digital economy, environmentally friendly technology transfer, emission reduction, agricultural development, emerging technology industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor chips, marine economy, environmental protection, labor cooperation, vocational training, etc.

"The two sides agreed to establish a working group to connect and promote the implementation of cooperation agreements, in the spirit of saying what is said must be done, and commitments must be implemented effectively and practically," the Prime Minister emphasized.

According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern; agreed to closely coordinate and support each other, especially at the United Nations and ASEAN-led forums, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM); enhance dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, effectively respond to common challenges in the region; and coordinate to promote cooperation in the Mekong Sub-region.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; not using force or threatening to use force; resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); agreed to exchange and share information and enhance maritime cooperation, and strive to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and development.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated the New Zealand Government led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on its first 100 days in power with good results and wished the Prime Minister and the cabinet continued success in the coming time.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at the talks, the two sides made commitments to jointly contribute to building a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and developed Asia-Pacific region, bringing benefits to the two countries and their people.

Vietnam and New Zealand promote comprehensive relations in all areas: politics, diplomacy, economics - trade - investment, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that over the past 5 years, trade cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand has been growing steadily, with two-way trade turnover increasing by 60% over the past 5 years; the two sides are striving to reach the target of 2 billion USD in two-way trade turnover by 2024 and soon double two-way investment through appropriate measures. The two sides are jointly developing and implementing a plan to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050.

The two sides believe that there is still a lot of room for cooperation between the two countries. Therefore, both sides need to make every effort to exploit the potential to the fullest, firstly organize activities and achieve practical and outstanding results in the year of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - New Zealand relations in 2025; aiming to bring the relationship between the two countries to a new height.

The two sides believe that, building on the achievements that have been made, with the determination of the leaders and people of the two countries, the Vietnam - New Zealand relationship will continue to develop strongly, go into deeper, more substantive and effective dimensions, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries as well as contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia - Pacific region and the world.

Congratulating Vietnam on its recent strong socio-economic achievements, becoming a dragon of the region, the New Zealand Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for inviting the New Zealand Prime Minister and his wife to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

* Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents including: Educational cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the New Zealand Education Agency; Cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on economic and trade cooperation; Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance and the New Zealand Treasury.

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