Marking a new step forward in the Vietnam-New Zealand friendship and cooperation relationship

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and New Zealand Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee at the talks.

On the morning of August 28, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosted a solemn welcoming ceremony for the Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two National Assembly Chairmen held talks.

At the talks, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man highly appreciated the visit of New Zealand Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee as the first high-level visit after the two countries upgraded their relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; emphasizing that this is an important milestone, marking a new step forward in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of parliamentary diplomacy .

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man expressed his delight that the visit took place on the occasion of Vietnam's 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, a momentous occasion for the Vietnamese people.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that although Vietnam and New Zealand are geographically far apart, the two countries are increasingly getting closer through economic, cultural, educational links, similarities in ideas, visions and people-to-people exchanges; working together for the development and happiness of the people, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man recalled that since establishing diplomatic relations in 1975 and upgrading to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, Vietnam and New Zealand have achieved many remarkable achievements in economic and trade cooperation.

As of July 2025, two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached about 1.05 billion USD, of which Vietnam exported 580 million USD and imported 470 million USD from New Zealand, but this figure is still not commensurate with the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries.

On the basis of the bilateral relationship over the past 50 years, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man suggested that the two sides continue to consolidate and tighten political relations through high-level visits and contacts, exchange of delegations to learn from experiences between ministries, branches and localities of the two countries, increase exchanges between Committees, Friendship Parliamentarians' Groups, and Young Parliamentarians' Groups of the two countries; and suggested that the Foreign Ministries of the two countries soon complete the Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to concretize the contents of the new relationship framework.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized the importance of deepening defense and security cooperation to help protect each country's national security and make practical contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world; and asked New Zealand to support training and capacity building for Vietnam in participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man suggested that the two sides take breakthrough measures to soon bring trade turnover to 3 billion USD by 2026, especially promoting the complementarity in goods of the two countries to boost the export of advantageous products of each country; at the same time, making the most of the advantages from free trade agreements (FTAs) of which both countries are members, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that cooperation in new areas such as green economy, digital economy, and energy transition is New Zealand's strength; highly appreciated New Zealand's initiative on the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability; expressed his desire to learn from New Zealand's experience in developing clean and high-tech agriculture.

The National Assembly Chairman also proposed that the two sides expand cooperation in education, training, labor, and tourism, and open direct flights to contribute to enhancing people-to-people exchanges, and suggested that New Zealand increase the number of visa quotas granted to Vietnamese citizens participating in the Working Holiday Program.

Regarding cooperation between the two National Assemblies, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man suggested that the two National Assemblies increase delegation exchanges, closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums, share legislative and supervisory experiences, and enhance cooperation between the two support agencies of the two National Assemblies.

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee respectfully thanked the National Assembly and people of Vietnam for their warm, respectful and thoughtful welcome; sincerely congratulated the Government, National Assembly and people of Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day September 2, and shared his impression of the national pride of all Vietnamese people at this important moment of the country.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee emphasized the role of the two countries' parliaments in listening to the opinions of the people, thereby contributing to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and friendly relations between the two countries; expressed satisfaction at the increasing exchange of delegations at all levels, exchanges and warm feelings between the two peoples through education, tourism, trade and investment cooperation.

Appreciating and agreeing with the sharing of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Speaker of the House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee emphasized that in the context of many challenges in regional and global security as present, the two countries need to deepen bilateral relations; affirming that New Zealand is ready to consider increasing the import of Vietnam's strong products into the New Zealand market, thereby helping the two countries' trade grow, soon reaching the target of 3 billion USD.

The two National Assembly leaders agreed that the two sides need to continue to coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN and ASEAN-led forums, as well as cooperate and coordinate positions on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man affirmed that Vietnam wishes to make practical contributions to promoting ASEAN-New Zealand relations, including working towards establishing the ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and organizing a Special Summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-New Zealand Partnership in 2025.

WISHES

Source: https://nhandan.vn/danh-dau-buoc-tien-moi-trong-moi-quan-he-huu-nghi-va-hop-tac-viet-nam-new-zealand-post904330.html