Friendship bridge underpin New Zealand-Vietnam rapport

On June 6, New Zealand Minister for Economic Development, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment and Science and Innovation, Steven Joyce, will join Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem to announce a New Zealand-Vietnam friendship bridge to be constructed in Dien Bien Phu street, in Ho Chi Minh City, connecting Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Hutech) and the Hong Bang International University.

The minister is in Vietnam on a three day visit coinciding with the commencement of direct flights by Air New Zealand between Ho Chi Minh City and Auckland, from June 4, 2016.

The bridge is a joint project between the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and a coalition of New Zealand timber firms, and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The friendship bridge will be made from New Zealand radiata pine, a strong and environmentally sustainable wood frequently used in construction in New Zealand and throughout the world. It will provide service to students and members of the public crossing busy Dien Bien Phu street by foot.

“Discussions to construct the friendship bridge began in 2015 during the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Vietnam when a coalition of New Zealand timber companies - Sequal Lumber, Timbalink, PTL Structural Timber Consultants, Vietnam-New Zealand Ltd and Tran Duc Homes – raised with us the idea of sponsoring an enduring symbol of friendship between the two countries to mark the anniversary,” noted New Zealand consul general H.E. Tony Martin.

Martin, meanwhile, stressed that “The idea to construct a bridge – something that connects two things together – is a great symbol of the strong ties between New Zealand and Vietnam.”

“Constructed from New Zealand radiata pine, a strong and environmentally friendly material, with innovative treatment, design and engineering techniques applied, the bridge is a strong metaphor for our rapidly growing bilateral relationship as well as a great advertisement for the use of timber in construction,” added Martin.

New Zealand is best known of using wood and plant fibres, which includes: wood modification, wood processing, fibre sciences, pulp and paper testing, bio- refinery technology, clean technologies. According to New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industry, forestry makes an important contribution to New Zealand’s economy as the third largest earner, making up to 3.2 per cent of GDP.