New Zealand Parliament Speaker: 'Vietnam's aspiration and perseverance over the years is what impressed me most'

Despite his busy schedule, New Zealand Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee still took time to share with the press about his official visit to Vietnam, especially his impressions of Vietnam's development.

General Secretary To Lam received New Zealand Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee during his visit to Vietnam on August 28. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

In 2025, Vietnam and New Zealand will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the two countries will also upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (February 2025). What is the significance of this milestone and what benefits will it bring to bilateral cooperation in the future, Mr. Speaker of the National Assembly?

New Zealand considers Vietnam a very important partner, especially given Vietnam's leading role in ASEAN and many other multilateral agreements.

We cherish the valuable friendship with Vietnam, built and nurtured over the past 50 years and with the potential to grow even further. Our comprehensive strategic partnership is built on a foundation of deep and broad cooperation.

New Zealand Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee gives an interview to the press on August 28. (Photo: Anh Duc)

Both countries are active in international trade and aim to increase bilateral trade to around US$3 billion by 2026. For a country with only 5 million people like New Zealand, we will strive to achieve that goal. Personally, I believe we can absolutely do better.

Equally important is that the ties between the people of the two countries will continue to be strengthened and enhanced. We hope that many Vietnamese people will come to New Zealand to study, research, and do business; and conversely, Vietnam will also welcome New Zealanders, thereby connecting the people of the two countries.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, the processes between the two countries may differ, but we will explore every way to promote cooperation between the two parliaments, as well as between relevant agencies, to the highest possible level. Parliament in any country is crucial because it is where the voices of the people are gathered. The New Zealand Parliament is very open, with participation from many different political parties, reflecting diverse viewpoints.

Vietnam and New Zealand work closely in regional and international frameworks such as ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, and are both members of important trade agreements such as CPTPP and RCEP. According to the National Assembly Chairman, how have these frameworks contributed to promoting economic and trade relations as well as ensuring common strategic interests?

New Zealand views Vietnam as a reliable partner in the region, particularly in the implementation of multilateral agreements to which both countries are signatories.

Currently, the international situation is volatile, including challenges related to tariffs, affecting all countries. For New Zealand, building strong relationships with countries in the region is extremely important.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Speaker of Parliament Gerry Brownlee visit an exhibition showcasing images of cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand on August 28. (Source: VGP)

We view Vietnam as a strategically leading country in the region, with a strong aspiration for economic development. Economic growth is the path to improving the lives of people in any country. Therefore, we want to learn a great deal from how Vietnam has achieved impressive growth rates in the current challenging global context.

The National Assembly Chairman's visit took place at a time when Vietnam was preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of its National Day on September 2nd. Looking back over the past 80 years, what development achievements of Vietnam impressed the National Assembly Chairman the most?

As a visitor to Vietnam, the few days leading up to the National Day celebration on September 2nd was a special experience.

Right here in Hanoi, and I believe throughout Vietnam, one can clearly feel the excitement of the people celebrating Independence Day; affirming Vietnam as an independent nation, contributing to world peace. That atmosphere permeates the streets, through flags, costumes, and the bustling activity of the people. Witnessing this moment firsthand is a great honor for us.

As children, we witnessed the arduous journeys that Vietnam went through after its founding in 1945. Vietnam has gradually emerged from that period to become a peaceful and developing country. In my opinion, this is a miracle.

Since peace was restored, Vietnam has undergone extraordinary changes. Currently, the country is on the verge of a leap forward in GDP per capita growth, thereby improving the lives of its people. It is this aspiration and perseverance over the years that impresses us most.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man held talks with New Zealand Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee on August 28. (Source: quochoi.vn)

New Zealand recently increased the number of scholarships available to Vietnamese students by 56%. Looking ahead, what steps will New Zealand take to further attract Vietnamese students and deepen educational cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Speaker of the National Assembly?

First of all, New Zealand is a peaceful country. Despite its geographical distance from Vietnam, the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, though small, is close-knit and represents your country very well.

New Zealand universities are consistently ranked in the top 2% globally, offering very high-quality education. New Zealand provides scholarships to enable future leaders of Vietnam to study in New Zealand, not only creating lasting memories but also utilizing their acquired knowledge to contribute to both Vietnam and New Zealand.

The delegation included MP Lan Pham, of Vietnamese descent, who is currently a member of the New Zealand Parliament. This demonstrates that the Vietnamese community is very well represented in New Zealand society.

Scholarships are an important way to promote education and help students share their experiences. I expect that as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to develop, the number of scholarships will not only be maintained but also expanded further.

Regarding regional and global issues such as peacekeeping, climate change response, and sustainable development, how, according to the Speaker of the National Assembly, can the two countries cooperate more closely to contribute to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world?

Vietnam has affirmed its independent foreign policy, without taking sides, and this is very much in line with the goals of maintaining global peace.

New Zealand currently has peacekeeping forces in around 32 conflict zones around the world. Some operations span multiple years, we have been in the Sinai Desert since 1972. We also have peacekeeping forces in the Golan Heights, on the Syria-Jordan border, as well as in Sudan and elsewhere.

The need for peacekeeping forces will be greater in the future. I believe the international community will turn to countries with a deep commitment to peace, such as Vietnam. Vietnam and New Zealand also have many opportunities for closer cooperation in this area.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman of the National Assembly!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chu-tich-quoc-hoi-new-zealand-khat-vong-va-su-ben-bi-cua-viet-nam-suot-nhieu-nam-qua-la-dieu-toi-an-tuong-nhat-325954.html