Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính welcomes Ambassador of New Zealand to Việt Nam Caroline Beresford. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hosted a reception for the new Ambassador of New Zealand, Caroline Beresford, in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

PM Chính thanked the Government of New Zealand for extending condolences and sending a special envoy to Việt Nam to attend the funeral of late Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

The Vietnamese leader hailed the effective cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in implementing the results of his official visit to New Zealand in March this year, including New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ visit to Việt Nam to co-chair the second Việt Nam- New Zealand ministerial meeting in June.

He said that 2025 will mark important milestones in the relationship between the two countries with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership, which is an occasion for the two countries to organise meaningful activities, including high-level visits.

PM Chính said that he hopes to welcome PM Christopher Luxon to Việt Nam in 2025.

He suggested that the two sides map out a roadmap along with steps and contents for the upgrade of their ties, and apply more breakthrough measures to achieve the goal of US$2 billion in two-way trade in 2024 and $3 billion in 2026, including the opening of doors for each other's products.

PM Chính expressed his hope that New Zealand will continue supporting Việt Nam in teaching English and provide training to Vietnamese officials, and expand people-to-people exchanges.

For her part, Beresford said she is keen on working for more comprehensive and deeper ties between the two countries, heading to the upgrade of the ties.

She pledged to cooperate with Việt Nam and New Zealand's agencies, ministries and sectors to promote bilateral collaboration in promising areas, including trade, investment, education, agriculture, climate change response, green and digital economy.

She also mentioned the plan to organise activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the Việt Nam-New Zealand diplomatic relations in 2025, including meetings for businesses and students of the two sides.

PM Chính highly evaluated the ambassador's idea on stronger coordination at multilateral forums, and emphasised that the sharing of viewpoints on regional and international issues is a foundation for the two sides to increase cooperation, contributing to the building of the Asian-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions of peace, stability and development.— VNS