PM begins official tours to New Zealand, Australia

He is accompanied by Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu; Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung; Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong; Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh; Minister of Labor-Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung; and Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for People’s Aspirations Nguyen Thanh Hai.

This is the first time PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits New Zealand since he took office in 2016.

The visit is expected to further enhance political trust and lay a firm foundation for the two countries to deepen cooperation in accordance with the orientations figured out by both sides in the Viet Nam - New Zealand Action Plan for the period 2017-2020.

Both sides signed the Action Plan in November 11 last year on the occasion of New Zealander PM Jacinda Ardern’s tour to Viet Nam to attend the APEC High-Level Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang.

During PM Phuc’s Australia visit, the two countries will upgrade the bilateral ties to a higher level on the occasion of the 45^th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The Vietnamese Government chief will also attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit with a focus on improving security and prosperity in the Rregion.

This will be the 6^th ASEAN-Australia heads-of-government summit since 1977, but the first to be held in Australia.

The Summit of heads of government will be the centerpiece of a series of meetings in the week of 12–18 March which will highlight the breadth and significance of the ASEAN relationship./.

By Quang Minh