Vietnam as ‘a rising star of Southeast Asia’: New Zealand Prime Minister
WVR - During the official visit to Vietnam, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will hold crucial meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other Vietnamese officials to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
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| Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon co-chair a press conference following their talks in Wellington on March 11, 2024. (Photo: VGP) |
Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon will pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 from February 25-28.
Prime Minister Luxon's visit comes at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and marks his first trip to Vietnam since assuming office in November 2023, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday.
While in Vietnam, Prime Minister Luxon will meet with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and call on Vietnam’s other principal leaders to strengthen the strategic partnership and discuss ways of collaboration with the S-shaped country.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Prime Minister Luxon highlighted Vietnam's emergence as Southeast Asia's rising star, standing out as one of the region's fastest-growing economies.
"This year our two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. My visit will further energise our relationships, strengthen existing trade, and open the door to more opportunities for New Zealand businesses, to grow incomes and create jobs here at home," he said in a statement.
“Our trade with Vietnam has grown by 40 percent in the past five years, but we know there is room for more. I am committed to reaching our ambitious two-way trade goal of 3 billion USD in 2026,” he affirmed.
Vietnam's rapid economic growth – averaging over five percent annually for more than two decades – combined with a population exceeding 100 million makes it a lucrative market for New Zealand, “particularly in the areas of international education and high-quality food and beverage offerings,” he emphasized.
The New Zealand leader will also deliver a keynote address at the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 in Hanoi, highlighting New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with ASEAN.
This year marks 50 years of dialogue relations between New Zealand and the 10-country bloc, including Vietnam.
According to Prime Minister Luxon, “New Zealand’s future security and prosperity is linked to the success of ASEAN and its members.”
“We’re working hard to lift our cooperation and deepen the relationship with ASEAN, as we strengthen our international partnerships and leverage the opportunities they generate for Kiwi businesses.”
| In an interview with The World & Vietnam Report, Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung said the visit holds special significance as the two nation are marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and five years of strategic partnership. The visit comes at a crucial time when Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation is flourishing, backed by frequent high-level exchanges and various cooperation mechanisms and agreements. It offers an important opportunity for the two sides to look back on their friendship and strategic partnership so as to shape up future strategy for their relations. |
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