Wellington (VNA) - National Assembly Chairman VuongDinh Hue on December 6 told New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that Vietnamattaches great importance to relations with the country and wishes to furtherpromote the bilateral partnership in all fields through channels.

TheVietnamese top legislator said that together with the recent official visit toVietnam by the New Zealand leader, his ongoing visit affirms the determinationof high-ranking leaders and peoples of both countries in promoting the bilateralstrategic relations.

Briefing the host on his activities in Wellington, Aucklandand Hamilton, he underlined that there is room for the two countries to furtherbeef up their cooperation for the target of 2 billion USD in two-way trade in2024.

NA Chairman Hue suggested that the two sides furtherstrengthen collaboration in aviation and tourism with the operation of moredirect flights. He proposed that New Zealand remove trade barriers and avoidthe imposition of trade defence measures against Vietnam to facilitate bilateraltrade, while creating more favourable conditions for the business communities ofthe two sides to foster partnership and increasing trade promotion programmes.

Vietnam is willing to import goods from New Zealand andhopes to export more farm produce to the country, he said, suggesting that NewZealand open high schools and universities in Vietnam and receive moreVietnamese students. He also asked New Zealand to support Vietnamese holiday and agricultural workers to work in the country.

For her part, PM Ardern recalled her good memories of herNovember visit to Vietnam and said that the Vietnamese NA leader’s visit will helpfurther promote the bilateral ties in all fields, including economy, trade,agriculture, education-training, and people-to-people exchange.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese NA Chairman’s proposals, PM Ardern held that withthe good outcomes of high-ranking leaders’ visits, including the successful businessforums in both countries, New Zealand is keen on continuing to explore theVietnamese market and cooperation opportunities in economy, trade andinvestment with Vietnam.

She said she hopes the two countries will continue tostrengthen cooperation in education, affirming that New Zealand is ready tocreate favourable conditions for Vietnamese workers to work in New Zealand in prioritised areas such as health care, constructionand agriculture.

PM Ardern lauded the organisation of the Economic Forum andthe Education Forum on the occasion of the visit, expressing her belief thatthe positive results of the forums will open up many opportunities forcooperation between the two countries after the pandemic. She thanked Vietnamfor quickly announcing the opening of the market for New Zealand's strawberriesand pumpkins, less than a month after her visit to Vietnam.

NA Chairman Hue took the occasion to thank the New Zealand Government forsupporting the Vietnamese community in the country./.