PM's visit boosts VN-NZ comprehensive partnership

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and New Zealander PM John Key. Photo: VGP

The host welcomed PM Dung’s first official visit to the country, saying that it was a significant event taking place at a time when both countries are marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1975-2015).

The two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation, especially since the two countries established the comprehensive partnership in 2009, and agreed on a common vision on promoting and deepening the comprehensive partnership to elevate it to a strategic partnership in the future.

The two PMs expressed their pleasure with practical developments in bilateral affiliation in politics, trade, investment, security, national defence, education and culture.

The two-way trade turnover saw a steady increase annually and reached nearly US$800 million in 2014, approximately a 120% growth within five years since 2009. The two countries are striving to reach a US$1.7 billion two-way trade value by 2020. Many New Zealand projects in Viet Nam have seen fruitful results while Viet Nam ranks ninth among countries having students studying in the oceanic country.

Viet Nam and New Zealand have signed an agreement agreement on food safety and animal and plant quarantine - Photo:VGP

Both sides agreed to facilitate each country’s goods and service access to the other market. New Zealand will consider the import of fruits from Viet Nam.

PM Key valued Viet Nam as a potential market and affirmed further investment in fields of New Zealand’s strengths and of Viet Nam’s demand, including agriculture, agricultural trade, energy, education and training.

The two PMs agreed to continue delegation exchanges at all levels, diversify contact activities, promote the effectiveness of current cooperation mechanisms to realize high-level leaders’ agreements and implement on schedule targets set in the 2013-2016 Action Plan.

They also discussed measures to enhance cooperation in security, national defence, education, people-to-people exchange and labor.

PM Dung spoke highly of the New Zealand Government’s development aid for Viet Nam and expected the country to continue close collaboration with Viet Nam in fields of New Zealand’s strengths and of Viet Nam’s priorities, including agriculture, rural development, human resource development, disaster risk management, and support to war-era bomd and mine consequence recovering efforts.

PM Key affirmed that New Zealand would continue technical support and enhance the capacity for Vietnamese human resources.

He suggested a new cooperation initiative-- ‘Inter-governmental trade partnership’ -- to create opportunities for Viet Nam to access the New Zealand Government’s world class intellectual property.

Both sides agreed to enhance cultural and arts exchanges and tourism to improve mutual understanding, boost people-to-people exchange.

The two countries will open a direct flight to promote trade, tourism and people-to-people relations.

PM Key valued contributions of the Vietnamese community to the host country and affirmed to create favorable conditions for the community to sette down and integrate well into the political and socio-economic life in the host country, becoming bridges for the two countries’ friendship development.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and stressed the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability, calling on all sides to peacefully solve disputes at sea in accordance with international laws.

The two countries also sign a protocol amending agreements on aviation transportation - Photo: VGP

PM Dung invited his counterpart to visit the country this year. PM Key accepted the invitation with pleasure and affirmed to visit Viet Nam in 2015.

The two leaders agreed to issue a joint statement on enhancing the comprehensive partnership.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a protocol amending agreements on aviation transportation; food safety and animal and plant inspection.