New Zealand to provide over 6 million NZD in support of Vietnamese agriculture

Following formal reception on the morning of March 11, the two Prime Ministers of Vietnam and New Zealand engaged in an extensive and constructive discussion. Subsequently, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand held a press meeting to announce the successful results of their discussion.

Both Prime Ministers reiterated the amicable relations and deep-seated Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and New Zealand, reinforced by robust people-to-people exchanges and close cooperation in key areas including political-diplomatic, economic-commercial-investment, education, labor, science, and technology.

According to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's assessment, bilateral relations between both countries have gained momentum since its elevation to a Strategic Partnership in 2020. He affirmed that Vietnam stands as one of New Zealand's key partners in the Southeast Asian region, one of the fastest-growing economies globally, and New Zealand's 14th largest trading partner.

Both Prime Ministers discussed opportunities to rapidly increase bilateral trade turnover, with the aim of reaching 3 billion USD by 2026 through enhancing tourism and educational cooperation, as well as removing non-tariff barriers, reinforcing trade promotion activities, implementing existing free trade agreements, and exploring measures to facilitate two-way investment.

During the visit, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a grant of 6.24 million New Zealand dollars for Vietnam's agricultural sector, with a focus on the "VietFruit High-Quality Fruit Tree Development Project (Phase 3)." The project is a collaborative effort between the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research and Vietnam to boost Vietnam's passion fruit industry, following a similar successful project with Vietnamese dragon fruit.

Both Prime Ministers praised the Vietnam-New Zealand Education Strategic Cooperation Plan for 2023-2026, which facilitates collaboration between higher education institutions from both countries, thereby supporting Vietnam in improving education models through digital platforms, and establishing alumni networks.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon affirmed the New Zealand Government's commitment to enhancing international education and diversifying the international education market. The two Prime Ministers also discussed opportunities to invite Vietnamese students to study at prestigious universities in New Zealand.

Both Prime Ministers also welcomed enhanced cooperation in other fields, with several notable examples include the signing of economic-trade and financial cooperation agreements, and the conducting of security and defense dialogue mechanisms.

They also agreed to conduct the first bilateral Ocean Dialogue in 2024 on international law, governance, and marine conservation. The Prime Ministers reiterated both countries' commitment to adhere to international law, including the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. Furthermore, Vietnam and New Zealand pledged to cooperate with other international partners in contributing to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Indian Ocean - Pacific region and the world as a whole, including the South China Sea.

The Prime Ministers viewed the upcoming 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025 as an opportunity for the Vietnam and New Zealand to expand cooperation in various fields of mutual interest such as green economy, climate change, digital transformation, and high-tech agriculture.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Action Plan for 2021-2024, which has yielded numerous positive results in economic-trade, defense, security, education, and labor sectors. He proposed enhancing high-level exchanges and visits, actively implementing existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and laying the groundwork for elevating the relationship between Vietnam and New Zealand in the future.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh invited Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to make an official visit to Vietnam at a suitable time, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gladly accepted the invitation.

During the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's official visit to New Zealand, the Department of Animal Health and the Department of Policy and Trade under the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand signed a cooperation program for 2024-2026, with the observation of Minister Le Minh Hoan.

In addition to enhancing the exchange of information on new regulations affecting trade, both parties agreed to collaborate on customs clearance at border gates. Accordingly, Vietnam and New Zealand will utilize electronic quarantine certificates for animal products in the near future.