Auckland (VNA) – Vietnamand New Zealand on March 13 issued a Joint Statement on advancing thecomprehensive partnership toward the strategic partnership during VietnamesePrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to New Zealand on March 11-14.

The following is the full text of the joint statement.

JOINT STATEMENT ON ADVANCING THECOMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP TOWARD THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THESOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND NEW ZEALAND


At the invitation of the RightHonourable Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, thePrime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency NguyenXuan Phuc, paid an official visit to New Zealand on 12-14 March 2018.

An official welcome ceremony in honour of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc tookplace at Government House in Auckland on 13 March, followed by official talksand an official lunch with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. On the same day,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Speaker of the New Zealand Houseof Representatives, the Right Honourable Trevor Mallard. Earlier,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gave remarks at the Vietnam – New ZealandBusiness Forum and received a number of New Zealand senior business leaders.During this visit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited University ofWaikato and Plant and Food Research.

Political cooperation

The two sides noted recent exchanges of high-level visits, including the statevisit to Vietnam by the Governor General of New Zealand, the His ExcellencyLieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae in August 2013; theofficial visit to New Zealand by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, His ExcellencyNguyen Tan Dung in March 2015; the official visit to Vietnam by the PrimeMinister of New Zealand, the Right Honourable John Key in November 2015; andthe visit to Vietnam by the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern to attend the APECSummit in November 2017. The two Leaders agreed to further intensify frequenthigh-level visits in both directions, as well as to maintain bilateralcooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Commission on Trade and Economics,Bilateral Defence Dialogue and Political Consultations, to exchange views onissues of mutual concern, such as climate change, regional architecture,consular services and cooperation on human rights issues, among others.

Noting the positive momentum in the relationship since the establishment of theComprehensive Partnership in 2009, the two Prime Ministers agreed to advancethe Comprehensive Partnership and assigned relevant ministries and branches ofboth sides to actively and effectively realize the Plan of Action 2017-2020 aswell as to expeditiously conclude talks and consultations by 2019 on aStrategic Partnership elevation in the near future as mutually agreed.

Defence and security

The two sides acknowledged the recentpositive developments in bilateral defence cooperation such as the signing ofthe New Zealand-Vietnam Three Year Defence Cooperation Action Plan2018-2021 and the Peacekeeping Operations Training and Cooperation ImplementingArrangement, as well as high-level defence visits in both directions. The twoleaders also welcomed further broader security and defence cooperation,including in military industries and research, cyber security, anti-terrorism,countering drug-trafficking and money laundering, and illegal migration. Bothsides agreed to discuss existing and other possible legal corridors forcooperation in these areas.

Trade and investment

The Prime Ministers noted that trade between the two countries is now at ahistoric high with two-way trade in goods and services reaching a recordUS$1.24 billion in 2017, representing a 32% increase over 2016 and a triplingof goods trade since 2009. The two Leaders expressed confidence that the targetof US$1.7 billion in two-way trade could be reached by 2020 accordingly. Theywelcomed the signing of the Arrangement on Economic and Trade Cooperation onthis occasion, and requested the early convening of the 6th meeting of the JointCommission on Trade and Investment.

 Both sides committed to individual and jointactions to reduce barriers to bilateral trade, especially for agriculturalproducts. The establishment of a dedicated Agricultural Counsellor in theNew Zealand Embassy later this year was noted as an important step in thisregard. The announcement of the Import Health Standard Export Plan for Rambutanand the signature of a Food Safety and Quality Management CooperationArrangement during the visit were further signs of positive cooperation. TheLeaders noted that Customs cooperation and the proposed Customs joint workprogramme would also further facilitate trade between the two countries. 

The two Prime Ministers noted that investment between the two countries had yetto reach its potential. Both Leaders agreed to encourage investment, includingin areas such as high-tech agriculture, green and renewable energy andinfrastructure.
 Development cooperation

The Prime Ministers welcomed the positive impact made by New Zealand’sdevelopment aid to Vietnam, highlighting flagship projects in dragon fruitcommercialisation, safe vegetable production, dam safety, scholarships andEnglish language training. Up to NZ$29 million would be invested byNew Zealand in the three year period up to July 2018. The two Leaderscommitted to substantial cooperation in the years ahead, sharingNew Zealand skills and technologies to make a practical difference inareas of Vietnamese priority such as agriculture, disaster risk management,knowledge and skills, and renewable energy; and to build stronger and lastingconnections between the two countries’ government agencies, universities,research institutes, businesses and NGOs. The Prime Ministers agreed to anenhanced annual consultation mechanism on development cooperation led by the VietnamMinistry of Planning and Investment and its New Zealand counterpart.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced two newprojects, namely, a three-year partnership supporting Vietnamese farmers andfood processors to modernise production, generate safer food and improveincomes (NZ$1.5million); and a pilot renewable energy project supporting theElectricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam with the tools to develop thewholesale electricity market enabling greater efficiency and renewable energyuptake (NZ$0.5 million).

The Leaders welcomed the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between Plantand Food Research New Zealand and Generalexim of Vietnam to improve avocadoproduction in Dak Nong province and a new project to reduce pre- andpost-harvest loss through safely reducing rodent damage on rice crops betweenLandcare Research of New Zealand and Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment. Both projects were facilitated by New Zealand’s Government toGovernment Partnerships Office.

Education and training

The Prime Ministers noted that education and training cooperation betweenNew Zealand and Vietnam is strong, expanding rapidly and is one of thepillars of both today's relationship and future Strategic Partnership. The twoLeaders appreciated the signing of the renewed Strategic Engagement Plan onEducation 2018-2020, and set the target to increase the number of Vietnamesestudents in New Zealand by 30% by 2020 facilitating further student exchanges,university-to-university joint programmes and other cooperation in bothcountries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed the regular promotion and operation ofthe Working Holiday Scheme and expressed Vietnam's readiness to receive NewZealand citizens under this Scheme.

Connectivity and people-to-people contacts

The two Prime Ministers noted thattourism between both countries is growing rapidly with Vietnam visitors toNew Zealand expanding by over 32% and New Zealand tourists to Vietnamby more than 19% in the last year, boosted by the establishment of directflights by Air New Zealand between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City in2016.  Both Leaders called for the expansion of air links and to furtherpromote travel between the two countries. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardernwelcomed the inclusion of New Zealand in Vietnam’s e-visa programme as avery positive step streamlining entry for New Zealand tourists, followingNew Zealand’s implementation in 2016 of e-visas for Vietnam visitors.

The two sides recognise the success of the Vietnamese community in New Zealandand highly value their contribution to the development of Vietnam and NewZealand as well as to the better promotion of bilateral relations.

Regional and international cooperation

Both countries continue to work closely in multilateral and regional forums,such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF),ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM ) process, and the East Asia Summit(EAS), in order to enhance regional prosperity, address regional securitychallenges and enhance cooperation on issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated New Zealand’s support for Vietnam’scandidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council forthe 2020-21 term, and extended an offer to share advice and experience gainedfrom New Zealand’s successful term in 2015-16 with Vietnam.

New Zealand and Vietnam recognise the critical importance of deepeningregional economic integration and supporting trade liberalisation across theAsia-Pacific region to ensure the prosperity of both countries. Both Leaderswelcomed the signature of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on theTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on 8 March 2018 in Chile and reiterated theircommitment to swift ratification and implementation of the agreement in thecoming months. Both Leaders reaffirmed their interest in achieving a modern,comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial outcome in the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement negotiations. The two sidesagreed to continue cooperation to further fossil fuel subsidy reform.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardernconveyed congratulations to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for Vietnam’ssuccessful hosting of APEC in 2017 and welcomed Vietnam’s offer to share itsexperience to support New Zealand’s preparations to host APEC in 2021.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed the growing cooperation between ASEANand New Zealand, especially in areas which help ASEAN successfully build up theASEAN Community. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated New Zealand's strongsupport for ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture. In theimportant year of 2020, when Vietnam alternatively chairs ASEAN, ASEAN andNew Zealand will commemorate the 45th anniversary of establishing aDialogue Partnership and the 5th anniversary of Strategic Partnership, and Vietnamwelcomed any New Zealand initiatives to enrich these milestones.

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security andstability in the South China Sea through implementation of international legalobligations in good faith, respect for legal and diplomatic processes, peacefulresolution of disputes, and maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflightin accordance with international law, including the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea. Both Leaders encouraged the full andeffective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theSouth China Sea in its entirety as well as the swift conclusion of an effectiveand substantive Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his gratitude to the Governmentand people of New Zealand for the warm hospitality extended to him and hisdelegation. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc extended an invitation forPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern to pay an official visit to Vietnam at amutually convenient time. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also forwardedthe invitation of President Tran Dai Quang for the Governor General of NewZealand, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy to pay a statevisit to Vietnam at her convenience.-VNA