Deputy Prime Minister visits New Zealand

July 27, 2017 - 10:22

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ arrived in Wellington yesterday, starting his three-day official visit to New Zealand at the invitation of his counterpart Paula Bennett.

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ meets New Zealand Finance Minister Steven Joyce in Wellington yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Khánh Linh

WELLINGTON – Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ arrived in Wellington yesterday, starting his three-day official visit to New Zealand at the invitation of his counterpart Paula Bennett.

During a working session with New Zealand Finance Minister Steven Joyce in the afternoon, Huệ said Việt Nam is accelerating economic restructuring of credit organisations, commercial banks and State-owned enterprises, adding that the country is working to refine market economy mechanisms, improve competitiveness and bolster the business climate.

He asked New Zealand to share experiences and encourage its enterprises to join the Vietnamese restructuring process.

Huệ shared his deep gratitude for the development support that New Zealand has provided for Việt Nam and asked for the early signing of a bilateral financial deal.

Joyce, for his part, called Việt Nam a significant New Zealand partner in ASEAN and spoke highly of Việt Nam’s successful hosting of important events in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN 2017.

He affirmed that New Zealand would assist Việt Nam restructure finance-banking, bad debts, business equitisation and the securities market. He also promised to continue facilitating Vietnamese agro-fishery access to the Pacific country’s distribution and supermarket chain.

Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, services, education-training, connectivity and information technology, toward raising two-way trade to US$1.7 billion by 2020.

Visiting the Vietnamese embassy in New Zealand, Huệ said his visit was to further promote bilateral ties, particularly in trade, education and labour exchange, urge New Zealand to consider the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and prepare for upcoming visits by both sides.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyễn Việt Dũng, the Vietnamese community in New Zealand now counts more than 6,600, mostly in Auckland city. — VNS

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