VN, NZ discuss ways to realize comprehensive partnership

VGP – Việt Nam and New Zealand agreed to early finalize the action program to realize their comprehensive partnership and carry out activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic establishment.

January 26, 2010 5:21 PM GMT+7

Vietnamese Deputy PM, FM Phạm Gia Khiêm (3^rd from right) and New Zealander FM Murry McCully (3^rd from left) hold talks in Hà Nội, January 26, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Văn Thừa

A ministerial-level talk was opened on Tuesday morning in Hà Nội between Việt Nam and New Zealand.

At the event, co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy PM, FM Phạm Gia Khiêm and New Zealander FM Murry McCully who is on a working visit to Việt Nam on January 25-26, the two sides were pleased with the vigorous development of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Việt Nam and New Zealand established the comprehensive partnership and signed some agreements on science and technology, customs, and police. In 2010, they will celebrate the 35^th anniversary of diplomatic establishment.

The two sides showed their confidence that the coming into force of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) in early 2010 will surely open more chances for the two countries.

The top diplomats agreed to open the 3^rd meeting of the Joint Committee for Economy and Trade on February 25 in New Zealand while promoting cooperation in trade, investment, ODA, education, tourism, and science.

Deputy PM Khiêm emphasized that, as Chair of ASEAN in 2010, Việt Nam will help to deepen the cooperation between New Zealand and ASEAN. He also took the occasion to ask New Zealand for offering Việt Nam a preferential status in negotiations for the latter’s access to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

By Xuân Hồng