President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) receives New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson in Hà Nội on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc expressed his hope that trade between Việt Nam and New Zealand will reach US$2 billion in 2024.

He was speaking after a meeting with New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

New Zealand has become an important economic partner of Việt Nam, he said, adding that two-way trade has continuously expanded over the past years.

President Phúc urged the ambassador to join efforts to promote the exchange of all-level delegations between the two countries, carry out meetings both online and in-person, reach an action programme to deploy the Việt Nam-New Zealand strategic partnership this year, and facilitate the travel of people as well as trade and investment ties.

Việt Nam always creates optimal conditions for New Zealand businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian nation, he said.

The President said the two sides should enhance connections between high schools and universities, and cooperation in vocational training, continue with scholarship schemes, recover tourism collaboration, and step up people-to-people exchange.

He used this occasion to thank New Zealand for donating 30,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Việt Nam.

Việt Nam highly evaluated New Zealand’s leadership in APEC Year 2021 when the world faces unprecedented challenges, he said, stressing that Việt Nam supports the draft Declaration of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and the plan to implement the APEC Vision until 2040.

Việt Nam will cooperate with New Zealand to ensure the success of this year’s APEC events, President Phúc pledged.  

Dobson said many New Zealand people are interested in áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress), and expressed her wish for stronger cultural exchange between the two countries.

She recalled the announcement by then PM Phúc and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern of upgrading Việt Nam-New Zealand relations to a strategic partnership in July 2020, marking the 45th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The ambassador said she is trying her best to promote the bilateral relationship, making it match cooperation potential of the two countries.

On this occasion, President Phúc asked the ambassador to convey his invitation to PM Ardern to visit Việt Nam at an appropriate time. — VNS