VN, NZ agree to seek new approach to TPP

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and New Zealand's FM Murray McCully after their talks at the Government Guest House in Ha Noi on April 24. Photo: VGP

During their talks in Ha Noi on Monday, the two sides agreed that the Joint Statement on further enhancing and deepening the comprehensive partnership issued between the two countries in March 2015 has created a favorable background to figure out vision for the bilateral ties in the future.

Reaffirming the importance of the Viet Nam-New Zealand ties, both sides vowed to continue strengthening political trust and deepening the contents of the comprehensive partnership towards strategic partnership.

The two FMs agreed on the basic elements of the Viet Nam-New Zealand Action Program for the period 2017 - 2020 and assigned inferior levels to continue discussions for early signing.

The program will focus on politics, defense-security, economy-trade, development assistance and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides agreed to continue the exchange of high-level delegations and contacts in 2017 and organize the 11^th political consultation in New Zealand while striving to raise the two-way trade volume to US$1.7 billion by 2020.

New Zealander FM McCully affirmed that his country expects to provide greater support for Viet Nam’s modernization and industrialization cause through official assistance development, trade and investment.

New Zealand also pledged to facilitate the import of Vietnamese fruits, including rambutan, star apple, longan, grapefruit, and blue dragon and continue technical assistance to agriculture sector.

The two FMs frankly exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concerns, reiterating their commitment to continue fostering coordination at Asia-Pacific forums like ASEAN, EAS, ARF, APEC as well as at the United Nations.

They also agreed to work with other members to seek new approach to the Trans-Pacific Partnership to ensure the legitimate interests of all the involved parties in a bid to spur economic connectivity in the region.

FM McCully said New Zealand will continue supporting and coordinating with Viet Nam to ensure the success of the APEC Year 2017.

Both sides underlined the importance of peaceful settlement of East Sea disputes, which includes full respect for diplomatic and legal processes in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; self-restraint without using or threatening the use of force; full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

During his two-day visit to Viet Nam, FM McCully will pay a courtesy call to State President Tran Dai Quang and attend the launching ceremony of the second phase of the New Zealand-funded project on dyke safety./.

By Huong Giang