State President Nguyen Minh Triet received visiting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in Hanoi on July 12.

President Triet affirmed PM Key’s visit as a great contribution to deepening bilateral ties and thanked New Zealand for its assistance to Vietnam, especially in poverty reduction and English language training.

 

Mr Triet praised New Zealand’s role in regional and international arenas and expressed his belief that the ASEAN-Australia- New Zealand Free Trade Agreement would bring active results and open up numerous opportunities in trade and investment.

 

He called for New Zealand’s support for Vietnam’s negotiations to participate in the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP).

 

PM Key said New Zealand is keen on cooperating with Vietnam, especially in development assistance and English language training, and added that the two economies have many complementary aspects.

 

The same day, New Zealand PM was also received by Truong Tan Sang, Party Politburo Member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat.

 

Mr Sang praised the New Zealand Government’s efforts in overcoming the global crisis and asked New Zealand to expand cooperation in the areas of agriculture, seafood and foodstuff processing, environment, tourism and labour for which both countries have strong potential.

 

He also asked New Zealand to further assist Vietnam with its international integration.

 

Mr Sang said Vietnam always attaches importance to relations with New Zealand and said the signing of a plan of action to formalise the comprehensive partnership between the two countries will be a driving force behind their development.

 

He expressed his willingness to boost ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the New Zealand ruling National Party and other political parties.

 

PM Key pledged to give priority to official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, support Vietnam in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership and wished Vietnam would support New Zealand in becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

 

He also said he will attend the Summit between ASEAN and its dialogue partners to be held in Hanoi in October this year.

 

VOVNews/VNA