VN, NZ agree to lift trade volume to US$1.7 billion by 2020

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and NZ FM Muray McCully in Auckland, New Zealand on December 2, 2016.

Both sides also agreed that economic cooperation will be a pillar of the Viet Nam-New Zealand relationship.

As the two sides have effectively implemented the Action program for 2013-2016, the two sides agreed to discuss on a new action program for 2016-2019 in order to figure out priority cooperation areas.

The two countries underlined the importance of continuing delegation exchanges at all levels; promote the efficiency of the bilateral cooperation mechanisms like political consultation between the two foreign ministries, and the joint commission for economic and trade cooperation.

FM McMully affirmed that New Zealand always regards Viet Nam as a priority partner in the region, saying the two countries need to utilize their potential to further enhance the bilateral ties.

New Zealand is ready to cooperate with Viet Nam to accelerate the procedures of assessing risks of Vietnamese fruits in a bid to boost the Southeast Asian country’s agro-aquatic exports to New Zealand, Mr. McCully said.

New Zealand will also support Viet Nam in training and increase technology transfer to Viet Nam to ensure the quality of agricultural products while official development assistance and scholarships .

The two sides pledged to continue beefing up defense-security and education cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides also discussed on regional and international issues of common concerns, including the recent developments related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and New Zealand’s support for Viet Nam to successfully host APEC next year.

The two countries emphasized the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region; complying with international law; respecting diplomatic and legal processes; addressing disputes through peaceful measures based in international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; exercising self-restraint without using or threatening the use of force.

Deputy PM, FM Minh took the occasion to invite New Zealander FM Muray McCully to visit Viet Nam soon./.

By Huong Giang