Hanoi (VNA) - National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted receptions onDecember 11 for the out-going Ambassadors of New Zealand, Chile and Indonesia.

In her meeting with New Zealand Ambassador Wendy Matthews, the top legislator spokehighly of the contributions by the diplomat and the embassy in general to strengtheningcooperation between the two countries.

Ngan expressed her hope that the two sides will continue to bolster cooperationand share information and experience in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

For her part, Matthews extended her sympathy over therecent heavy losses caused by seriousflooding in central Vietnam, saying that response to natural disasters is an areawhere the two countries can strengthen cooperation and experience sharing in thetime to come.

The upgrade of bilateral relations to a strategic partnershiphas affirmed the two countries’ commitment to their cooperation in the past,the present, and the future, she stressed.

In addition to main areas of cooperation such as defence, security, and politics,the two countries should also expand ties in agriculture, commerce, and education,Matthews said.

The NA Chairwoman thanked New Zealand for its support to Vietnam in its rolesas Chair of ASEAN 2020 and non-permanent member ofthe UN Security Council for 2020-2021, as well as its provision of official developmentassistance (ODA) over recent years and aid to help Vietnam overcome the consequencesof the recent floods.

The Vietnamese legislature always supports the friendship and cooperation betweenthe two countries, she said, adding that it will continue to work closely with NewZealand’s parliament to realise the joint statement on the strategic partnership.

Vietnam will actively support New Zealand’s chairmanship of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in2021, she affirmed.


In her reception for Chilean Ambassador Jaime Chomali Garib, Ngan affirmed thatVietnam attaches great importance to promoting relations with Latin American countries,especially Chile.

Vietnam-Chile relations have seen fruitful development, she said, with two-way tradehitting over 1 billion USD in the first 10 months of this year.

She hoped that the two countries’ legislatures would promote the exchange of delegationsand experience in law-making and decision-making on important issues.

The two sides should continue to cooperate in preventing the spread of COVID-19and promoting economic development in the time to come, she said, expressing herhope that the out-going ambassador will continueto work as a bridge between the two countries and make additional contributionsto promoting bilateral relations.

The Chilean diplomat congratulated Vietnam on successfully performing its rolesas Chair of ASEAN 2020 and Chair of AIPA 41, and expressed his admiration of itbeing one of very few countries to maintain positive growth in the context ofthe world still battling the COVID-19 pandemic.


While meeting with Indonesian Ambassador Ibnu Hadi, Ngan praised the diplomat’scontributions to developing the Vietnam-Indonesia friendship and strategic partnership.

While highlighting the sound development of bilateral relations across fields, Ngansaid Vietnam highly valued Indonesia’s role in the ASEAN region.

Hadi spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 and thanked the NA forproviding his country with masks and medical equipment to help it combat the pandemic.

The ambassador said he hoped Vietnam will continue to share its experience withIndonesia in responding to the disease.

Ngan presented medical face masks to the country on the occasion, suggesting thatthe two ministries of health further enhance cooperation in controlling the pandemicand share experience via online conferences./.