Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left, back) and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (right, back) witnessed the signing ceremony of a strategic cooperation plan in education and training between the two countries for the 2018-2020 period in March 13, 2018 (Photo: VNA)In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), he said the two countries set up their strategic partnership in July 20,2020, in which they defined their priorities, including the strategic connections, economicintegration and people connectivity. The two sides also sketched out goals,cooperation policies and mechanisms in areas of strategic meaning to thedevelopment of both countries.
In the joint action plan to realise the bilateral strategicpartnership for the 2021-2024, signed in December 2021, the two sidesclarified specific implementation measures and cooperation mechanisms, takinginto account their particularities in the context of the COVID-19pandemic.
Since the beginning of 2022, a series of activities have been carried out,including a high-level dialogue in agriculture as well as direct and onlineconferences between ministries, sectors and localities of both sides,contributing to maintaining and developing their connectivity and promoting bilateralpartnership in specific areas. Projects funded with ODA from New Zealand havebeen effective, he added.
According to the ambassador, the New Zealand PM’s visit,spanning from November 14-17, along with those of senior leaders of Vietnam toNew Zealand later this year, is expected to create a new impetus for thesuccessful implementation of goals set in the bilateral strategic partnershipframework.
The diplomat noted that this is the first visit by a senior leader of New Zealandto Vietnam after two years since the two countries lifted up their ties to astrategic partnership.
The visit carries an important political significance,marking a milestone in the comprehensive restart of the Vietnam-New Zealand strategicpartnership framework and the proactive adaptation to the new situation of theworld and the region.
It is taking place as the two countries have completely opened theirborders and worked hard to reconnect with the outside after the pandemic. The NewZealand PM’s sellection of Vietnam as the destination for her Asian tour rightafter the ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh and on the threshold of the APEC Leaders’Meeting in Bangkok reflects New Zealand’s special attention to Asia, especiallySoutheast Asia as well as Vietnam.
Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung (Photo: VNA)Amid many major changes in international security,geopolitics and economy that have affected the Asia-Pacific region, the visit by the New Zealand PM provides a chance for senior leaders of the two countriesto discuss more deeply on major issues of the region and the world, promotingtheir political trust and consensus in viewpoint and vision of the twocountries.
In the framework of the visit, PM Ardern is scheduled toattend a series of trade, investment and education promotion in Hanoi and HoChi Minh City. About 20 leading businesses accompanying the NewZealand leader have shown their interest in particular areas in Vietnam, hesaid.
Ambassador Trung expressed his belief that the visit will bringmany good news for businesses and farmers of both sides with more timely and boldermarket opening decisions.
It is expected to become an opportunity for the two sides tocomplete the negotiation procedures for and sign meaningful agreements in thefields of education and training, traffic, and transportation, thus facilitatingthe travelling of people of the two countries, he stated./.
VNA
