Can Tho seeks stronger cooperation with New Zealand
Secretary of the Party Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Van Hieu hosted a reception for Ginny Chapman, Charge d'Affaires of the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, on April 5.
Secretary of the Party Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Van Hieu hosts Ginny Chapman, Charge d'Affaires of the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, on April 5. (Photo: VNA)
Can Tho (VNA) - Secretary of the Party Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Van Hieu hosted a reception for Ginny Chapman, Charge d'Affaires of the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, on April 5.
Hieu highlighted the growing relationship between Vietnam in general and Can Tho in particular with New Zealand over the years, expressing his hope that the two sides will conduct more practical activities to further promote the collaboration between Can Tho and New Zealand basing on each side's strengths.
Specifically, the two sides can expand cooperation in hi-tech agriculture and green, sustainable industry, as well as human resources training for the agricultural sector.
Can Tho also hopes for more scholarships from New Zealand, as well as stronger cooperation in renewable energy, information technology, green economy, circular economy, and real estate development, said Hieu.
To further promote bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of agriculture, climate change, education and training, Can Tho plans to send a working delegation to New Zealand in September 2024, said the city leader.
The official held that the major obstacle facing the two sides currently is the modest number of direct flights from Vietnam to New Zealand, adding that the bottleneck should be removed to promote bilateral investment and tourism cooperation.
For her part, Chapman affirmed that Southeast Asia in general and Vietnam in particular are always a top priority in New Zealand's foreign affairs. For the Mekong Delta region, New Zealand is and will have more extensive cooperation in the agricultural sector.
Expressing her impression at the 1-million-hectare high quality rice field with low carbon emissions in Thanh An commune, Vinh Thanh district of Can Tho, she asserted that this achievement is resulted from efforts of many parties such as local authorities, organisations and farmers.
The diplomat said that responding to climate change and natural disaster risks is one of the pillars of cooperation between New Zealand and Vietnam, adding that the two sides are having good cooperation in education and research among institutes and schools. New Zealand hopes to connect more deeply with major research centres in Can Tho and will grant scholarships for state officials in areas of English training programmes and short-term training programmes, which will be rotated depending on the needs and requests from the Vietnamese side.
Statistics from the Can Tho Department of External Relations showed that last year, Can Tho exported 7.91 million USD worth of goods, mostly aquatic products, garments and farm produce, to New Zealand, while importing 7.6 million USD worth of products from the country./.
New Zealand investors want to develop strategic relations with Can Tho city - an economic hub in the Mekong Delta region that has produced a wide range of high-quality agricultural products, said New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Wendy Matthews.
Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Thuc Hien held a working session with Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Enrico Padula on March 22 to discuss all-around cooperation opportunities, with a focus on climate-resilient agriculture.
The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho wants to enhance cooperation with SunRice, Australia’s largest rice production and distribution group, so as to improve production efficiency and income for local farmers, Chairman of the city People’s Committee Duong Tan Hien said on April 3.
A pilot model of high-quality, low-emission rice production was launched in Thanh An commune, Vinh Thanh district, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 5, marking the start of a project on sustainably growing one million hectares of high-quality, low-carbon rice in the Mekong Delta by 2030.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Secretary of the Party Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Van Hieu hosts Ginny Chapman, Charge d'Affaires of the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, on April 5. (Photo: VNA) 
