New Zealand and Vietnam upgrade ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Photo: baochinhphu.vn

This upgrade was announced during the PM Luxon’s visit to Vietnam as the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Both leaders discussed opportunities to grow and deepen the relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam across economics, trade and investment, defence and security, education, and people-to-people connections under the new partnership.

“Strengthening our relationship with Vietnam is incredibly important to New Zealand’s economic future, with more opportunities for businesses at home to access this crucial market. I am delighted that Prime Minister Chinh and I today agreed to take the relationship between our countries to the next level,” Luxon said.

A comprehensive strategic partnership is the highest level of partnership with Vietnam and is a fitting way to commence the New Zealand and Vietnam 2025 anniversary year. This significant upgrade in the relationship is a major milestone and demonstrates the high level of trust, ambition, and strategic alignment between the two countries.

"Vietnam is the rising star of Asia, and the opportunities to work together on common goals are enormous," Luxon said.

"Today, Prime Minister Chinh and I reflected on the flourishing relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam, and the shared ambition to expand cooperation and to do more together across a wide range of priorities. The agreement also shows the priority my government is placing on relationships with Southeast Asia – a region crucial to our plan to grow our economy, create jobs and lift incomes.”

New Zealand and Vietnam agreed a Strategic Partnership in 2020. The agreement to elevate to a comprehensive strategic partnership will place New Zealand at the top tier of Vietnam’s international relationships.

Over the next year, New Zealand and Vietnam will agree a plan of action to outline joint initiatives under five pillars: political engagement; defence, security and oceans; economics, trade and investment; climate change, science and technology; and education and people to people links.

This is Vietnam’s 10^th Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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