Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
The visit takes place in 2025, when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 - June 19, 2025), and bilateral relations continue to develop positively and effectively.
The visit contributed to strengthening political trust, deepening the strategic partnership, and making the Vietnam-New Zealand bilateral relationship more substantive and effective.
The strategic partnership is becoming increasingly substantive.
The Vietnam-New Zealand relationship is a bilateral relationship with a long history. Although geographically distant, the two countries established diplomatic relations very early on, on June 19, 1975.
Over the past five decades, both sides have maintained contacts and exchanged numerous high-level delegations, marking significant developments in relations between the two countries.
In May 2005, the Prime Ministers of the two countries signed the "Declaration on Cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand," affirming their determination to strengthen cooperation to establish a comprehensive, long-term, and stable partnership between the two countries.
The relationship between the two countries was elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership during General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's visit to New Zealand in September 2009.
Prime Minister John Key welcomes General Secretary Nong Duc Manh on his official visit to New Zealand (2009). (Photo: Dinh Xuan Tuan/VNA)
The establishment of a Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries has created new impetus for cooperation in all fields, within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, for the benefit of the people of both countries, and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Subsequently, in July 2020, the two countries established a Strategic Partnership, further developing and strengthening bilateral relations and creating momentum for expanding areas of cooperation in the future.
The two countries have consistently maintained contacts and exchanges of delegations at high levels and other levels.
On the Vietnamese side, visits to New Zealand included: President Nguyen Minh Triet (September 2007); General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (September 2009); Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta within the framework of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 55) in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) (August 2022), an official visit to New Zealand and co-chairing the 1st Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting (September 2022); Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meeting bilaterally with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin (China) (June 2023), an official visit to New Zealand (March 2024); and meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the occasion of attending the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Laos (October 2024). National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh visits and works (September 2024); Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meets with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters on the occasion of attending the inauguration ceremony of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (October 2024); President Luong Cuong meets with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the occasion of attending the APEC 2024 Summit in Lima (Peru) (November 2024)...
On the New Zealand side, there have been visits to Vietnam by: Governor-General Jerry Mateparae (August 2013); Prime Minister John Key (July 2010, November 2015); Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attending the APEC 2017 Summit in Da Nang (November 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bill English on a working visit (September 2013); Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully on working visits (2010, 2012, 2014, April 2017); Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor (August 2018); Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on an official visit to Vietnam (November 2022); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Winston Peters on an official visit to Vietnam and co-chairing the 2nd Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting (June 2024)...
In particular, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to New Zealand in March 2024 marked a significant step forward, in which both sides affirmed their political determination and resolve to create further breakthroughs to achieve the goal of bringing bilateral trade turnover to US$3 billion by 2026.
During this visit, the two sides outlined key points encompassed in three pairs of keywords: "stabilization and consolidation," "enhancement and expansion," and "acceleration and breakthrough." Both sides agreed to promote the elevation of bilateral relations to a new level.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reviews the New Zealand honor guard. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
The two countries also maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as: the Foreign Ministers' Meeting (first in September 2022, second in June 2024); the Deputy Foreign Ministers' Political Consultations (13th on February 4, 2025); the Vietnam-New Zealand Maritime Dialogue (first in December 2024 in Hanoi); the Joint Committee on Economy and Trade (8th in May 2023); the High-Level Dialogue on Agriculture (2nd in April 2022); the Deputy Foreign Ministers' Defence Policy Dialogue (4th in March 2024 in New Zealand) and the Defence Consultations at the Department of Foreign Affairs level (11th in 2020 in online format)...
Within multilateral frameworks, Vietnam and New Zealand have close cooperative relations and support each other in important international and regional organizations and forums of which both countries are members, such as: the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, the Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and ASEAN cooperation mechanisms...
The two countries are jointly promoting cooperation under free trade agreements they are both signatories to, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Economic and trade cooperation is a crucial pillar in bilateral relations.
Economic, trade, and investment cooperation is an area of significant strength between the two countries. Vietnam is currently New Zealand's 13th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$1.3 billion in both 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, New Zealand is Vietnam's 41st largest trading partner (ranking 41st in exports and 37th in imports).
Vietnam exports to New Zealand various items including telephones and components, computers, electronic products and components, seafood, cashew nuts, and footwear; and imports from New Zealand milk and dairy products, fruits, wood, raw materials and accessories for textiles, garments, leather and footwear, machinery, equipment, tools, spare parts, scrap iron and steel, and various types of iron and steel…
The two countries aim to achieve a trade volume of $3 billion by 2026.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed the signing ceremony of a cooperation document between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on economic and trade cooperation. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
During the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to New Zealand (March 2024), the two sides signed an Agreement on economic and trade cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand.
According to the Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand, Nguyen Van Trung, Vietnam and New Zealand possess economic strengths that can complement each other, particularly in areas of strategic importance to the future of both countries. Both countries are also members of several important free trade agreements in the region, such as the CPTPP and RCEP, creating opportunities to leverage advantages in trade, economic cooperation, and investment.
In particular, agriculture is an important and promising area of cooperation in the bilateral relationship. Vietnam has opened its market to commercial potato tubers, frozen beef, kiwifruit, apples, pumpkins, and strawberries from New Zealand. New Zealand has granted licenses for Vietnamese mangoes, dragon fruit, rambutan, lemons, and pomelos. New Zealand is proposing to open its market to honey, pears, venison, and venison; Vietnam is proposing to open its market to longan, lychee, and cut flowers.
Recently, during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to New Zealand (March 2024), New Zealand announced a new grant of NZ$6.24 million for Vietnam's agricultural sector for the "High-Quality Fruit Seed Development Project (VietFruit)" Phase 3, a collaboration between the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research and Vietnam aimed at promoting Vietnam's passion fruit industry. A similar project with dragon fruit had previously been very successful.
Vietnam is currently New Zealand's 13th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$1.3 billion in both 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, New Zealand is Vietnam's 41st largest trading partner (ranking 41st in exports and 37th in imports).
Regarding investment, as of February 2025, New Zealand had 55 investment projects with a total capital of US$208 million, ranking 39th out of 149 countries and territories with foreign direct investment in Vietnam. The majority of investments are concentrated in the fields of real estate business, education and training, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; administrative and support services; and construction.
Some typical projects include: Aqua Riverside City in Dong Nai (operating in the real estate sector, registered investment capital of 115 million USD), and Binh Dinh-New Zealand Gold Company Limited (registered capital of 15 million USD).
Conversely, Vietnam has 12 investment projects in New Zealand with a total registered capital of US$43.9 million, ranking 30th out of 80 countries and territories where Vietnam invests abroad. These projects focus on manufacturing, accommodation and food services, wholesale and retail trade, distribution, import and export, and agriculture.
Regarding Official Development Assistance (ODA), New Zealand provides Vietnam with a stable and gradually increasing amount of ODA each year. New Zealand is committed to providing Vietnam with 26.7 million NZD in non-refundable aid for the period 2021-2024 (similar to the period 2018-2021); focusing on agriculture, climate change adaptation, education, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both sides are also promoting cooperation in new areas such as climate change and energy transition. New Zealand, a developed economy and a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), plays an important role in many regional initiatives and linkages.
For Vietnam, New Zealand is a partner with great potential for cooperation, especially in the fields of agriculture, education, green economy, digital transformation, and climate change adaptation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks about Vietnam's policies at Victoria University. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
In particular, in the field of addressing climate change, the two countries are strengthening cooperation in new areas such as renewable energy development, environmental protection, and high-tech and sustainable agriculture.
According to the Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand, Nguyen Van Trung, New Zealand can support Vietnam in improving technology and solutions to reduce carbon emissions. The two sides are expanding cooperation into new areas such as the green economy, digital economy, knowledge economy, circular economy, and energy transition, fulfilling commitments on climate change.
Furthermore, cooperation between the two countries in other areas such as education and training, labor, cultural exchange, and people-to-people exchanges has also yielded encouraging results. Among these, educational cooperation is one of the outstanding areas, and one of the three main pillars of the Action Program for implementing the Vietnam-New Zealand Strategic Partnership for the period 2021-2024.
The two countries signed the Vietnam-New Zealand Strategic Cooperation Plan on Education for the period 2023-2026 (March 2024), facilitating cooperation and linkages between higher education institutions in the two countries, supporting Vietnam in improving educational models through digital means, and establishing an alumni network; and the Agreement on Education Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Ministry of Education of New Zealand (November 2022).
New Zealand continues to provide scholarships to Vietnam, with 30 scholarships per year for Master's and Doctoral programs, and maintains the English language training program for Vietnamese civil servants.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with Vietnamese students studying at Victoria University. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
The New Zealand government is committed to promoting international education and diversifying the international education market. Increasing numbers of Vietnamese students are choosing New Zealand as their study destination, thanks to its high-quality education and attractive scholarship programs.
New Zealand is also helping Vietnam train experts, senior managers, specialized scientific researchers, and skilled workers.
Currently, the Vietnamese community in New Zealand numbers around 14,000 people, mainly residing in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The majority of expatriates have stable lives and maintain a strong connection to their homeland.
Promoting new opportunities for collaboration.
The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (June 19, 1975 - June 19, 2025), the 5th anniversary of the implementation of the Strategic Partnership (July 2020 - July 2025), and is an important milestone for both countries to expect to take the relationship to a new level.
Building on the positive development of relations in recent times, the official visit to Vietnam by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon from February 25-28 is a special event.
The visit is an important opportunity for both sides to review the progress of their friendly cooperation and strategic partnership over the past period, and to jointly set the strategic direction for bilateral relations in the long term. It is also an opportunity for high-level leaders of both countries to exchange views in greater depth on major global and regional issues, fostering high political trust and consensus on the perspectives and visions of both nations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung said this was also Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's first visit to Vietnam since he became head of the coalition government in New Zealand, with a new foreign policy priority of strengthening relations with ASEAN in general and with Southeast Asian countries in particular, of which Vietnam is one of the top important partners.
During the visit, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will hold official talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; pay courtesy calls on senior leaders of the Party, State and National Assembly; visit several economic, cultural and educational facilities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; and attend and speak at the ASEAN Future Forum, demonstrating New Zealand's appreciation for ASEAN.
Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung expressed his hope that the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon to Vietnam, along with a large business delegation including many leading economic groups, would be an opportunity for the business communities of the two countries to connect and build new partnerships.
During the visit, it is expected that several cooperation agreements in the fields of education, training, trade and economy, aviation, environmental protection, and combating climate change will be signed by both sides.
The visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon to Vietnam is sure to be a great success, further strengthening strategic political trust, creating breakthroughs in economic, trade, and educational cooperation, and expanding cooperation into new areas, maximizing the potential of both countries, and working together towards a prosperous future.
(Vietnam+)
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