PM Phuc: Vietnam wishes to strengthen relations with New Zealand

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Trevor Mallard on March 13. (Photo: VGP)

During his visit to the Pacific Ocean country from March 12-14, the PM met with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Trevor Mallard late on March 13.

Congratulating Trevor Mallard on his newly elected position, PM Phuc said that on the basis of the achievements made in recent years, New Zealand would continue to develop strongly and have a growing position in both the region and the world.

The host shared his admiration for the important achievements by the Government and people of Vietnam in their socio-economic development and in the implementation of foreign policy. He expressed his delight at the outcome of talks between the Vietnamese PM and his New Zealand counterpart, saying that these positive results would be an important basis for furthering bilateral relations in the near future.

Trevor Mallard recalled his good impression of Vietnam when he was Minister of Education in 2004, saying that he was the initiator of the Education Cooperation Agreement with Vietnam, bringing Vietnamese students, especially PhDs, into New Zealand. He said that New Zealand always wants to attract talented Vietnamese students to study in all industries in which New Zealand has strengths, such as IT, biotechnology, tourism, and hospitality.

The two sides were pleased about the positive developments in bilateral relations over recent years, with positive two-way trade likely to reach US$1.7-2.5 billion by 2020. They agreed to upgrade the relationship to a strategic partnership level; saying that the two sides should continue to promote practical and specific measures in trade, investment, tourism, aviation connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also agreed that the two legislative bodies should continue to increase the exchange of high-level visits, maintain cooperation and close coordination in regional and international parliamentary forums, and coordinate in monitoring cooperation agreements between the two countries, while promoting exchanges for a better mutual understanding and mutual trust between the two country’s MPs and peoples.

On the occasion, PM Phuc conveyed an invitation from Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives to pay an official visit to Vietnam at an appropriate time. New Zealand Speaker Trevor Mallard also offered an invitation to National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to visit his country.

After their meeting, New Zealand Speaker Trevor Mallard held a banquet for his guest.

The same day, the Vietnamese PM had a phone talk with New Zealand Governor-General Patsy Reddy.

PM Phuc highly appreciated New Zealand's effective support and assistance for Vietnam during its international and regional integration process.

He informed the host of the good results of talks between the PMs of Vietnam and New Zealand. He expressed his satisfaction with the positive development of relations both in the bilateral framework and in regional and international forums, especially since the two sides agreed to upgrade their comprehensive partnership to a strategic level.

The guest expressed his sincere thanks to New Zealand for supporting Vietnam in the successful organisation of the APEC Year 2017 and pledged to share Vietnam’s experiences when New Zealand host the APEC Year events in 2021.

The New Zealand Governor-General, who is on her pre-scheduled working visit, highly praised the positive outcomes of talks between the two PMs this morning, which set out orientations for the two countries' relations in the coming time, with particular focus on elevating relations to new heights.

She agreed that the two sides should focus on promoting educational cooperation, which is a common strength, to enhance the understanding of the two countries' cultures and people and promote people-to-people exchanges.

On the occasion, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc conveyed Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang's invitation to the Governor-General of New Zealand for a visit to Vietnam at an appropriate time.

Source: NDO