Vietnam, New Zealand convene second Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters co-chaired the second Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi on June 5.
At the second Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi on June 5 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - ♚Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters co-chaired the second Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi on June 5.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive and effective development of the Vietnam-New Zealand strategic partnership across politics and diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, national defence-securitty, education-training, sci-tech, agriculture and people-to-people exchange. They appreciated and agreed on numerous specific measures to realise the outcomes achieved during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to New Zealand last March.
Looking ahead, they pledged to collaborate on a series of initiatives in 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the fifth anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership, including high-level visits and contacts, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Economic and trade connection was a central focus, with both sides emphasising the potential for growth. They committed to reaching a two-way trade value of 3 billion USD by 2026 through enhanced economic connectivity, expanded market access, and effective implementation of existing free trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the ASEAN-Australia/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA). Establishing a direct flight route between the two countries was also discussed.
The meeting highlighted new areas for collaboration, including clean agriculture, green economy, digital economy, and energy transition. These areas will be incorporated into a soon-to-be-developed Action Plan for implementing the Strategic Partnership for the 2024-2027 period.
On regional and global issues, the ministers vowed to work together to maintain regional stability, cooperation and development. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and adhering to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Peters, for his part, affirmed that New Zealand gives top priority to Southeast Asia in its foreign policy, expressing a desire for more substantive, comprehensive and cohesive engagement with the region. He also underscored New Zealand’s support for ASEAN’s central role.
Son, in response, highlighted Vietnam’s commitment to further strengthening ASEAN-New Zealand relations in its role as coordinator from July 2024 to July 2027. He proposed increased collaboration for sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region, particularly regarding climate-resilient agriculture. He also suggested fostering closer ties between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum.
This meeting was the second of its kind, following the successful inaugural event in New Zealand in September 2022. Both sides agreed to convene the next meeting in New Zealand in 2025./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for enhanced measures to bring the Vietnam-New Zealand trade value to 3 billion USD at the earliest while hosting a reception for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters in Hanoi on June 5.
The visit to Vietnam by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters on June 5-6 demonstrates the importance the country attaches to strengthening relations with the Southeast Asian nation, a Vietnamese diplomat has said.
Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Vietnam’s permanent representative to ASEAN, highly valued New Zealand's steadfast commitments to support ASEAN's centrality while addressing the 12th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee (ANZJCC) meeting in Jakarta on May 15.
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.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
