Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters hold talks in Hà Nội on Wednesday. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and New Zealand aim to achieve a two-way trade turnover of US$3 billion by 2026 through increasing their economic connections, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters during their talks in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

The two diplomats expressed their satisfaction about the positive and effective developments of the Việt Nam-New Zealand strategic partnership in politics and foreign affairs, economic trade investment, security, education and training, science and technology, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides agreed on specific measures to implement the results achieved during the official visit to New Zealand made by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính in March.

The two ministers agreed to collaborate on the planning of external affairs events in 2025, which will coincide with the celebrations of the two nations' 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and their fifth year of strategic partnership. These events will include high-level meetings and cross cultural, people-to-people exchanges.

They pledged to take stronger and more innovative steps to increase market access and successfully enforce the terms of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, citing the continued potential of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The two sides agreed to expand and deepen cooperation in new fields such as clean agriculture, the green and digital economies and energy transformation.

Talking about the regional and international situation, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination to contribute effectively to efforts to maintain regional stability and enhance cooperation and development.

Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea), the two ministers affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation along with respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said Southeast Asia is an area that New Zealand gives high priority to in implementing new foreign policies.

He expressed a willingness to promote practical comprehensive and more cohesive cooperation and affirm support for the ASEAN’s central role.

Minister Sơn said Việt Nam will make more efforts to promote cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand as the coordinator for the ASEAN - New Zealand relations from July, 2024 to July, 2027.

He recommended that New Zealand step up its engagement with the Mekong sub-region to promote sustainable development, with a focus on climate change adaptation and agricultural growth.

Hosting New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters earlier in the day, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính recommended that the two ministries continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to implement specific projects and activities to further cooperation in various fields, creating a solid foundation to elevate bilateral ties.

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister expressed his hope that the two nations will soon establish a new framework for their relations based on their positive interactions. — VNS