President Trần Đại Quang (R) receives New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI  – President Trần Đại Quang called on New Zealand to join economic development in Việt Nam via increasing trade and investment during his reception for New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Hà Nội yesterday.
He hoped bilateral trade will increase, exceeding the goal of US$1.7 billion by 2020, and affirmed Việt Nam is ready to roll out the red carpet for New Zealand businesses to invest in the fields of their strength such as infrastructure, education-training, agriculture, processing industry, support industry and renewable energy.
The President expressed his pleasure at the firm partnership between the two countries, which is expected to be a strategic partnership soon, thanks to regular high-level delegation exchanges.
He welcomed the New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English to attend activities in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the coastal city of Đà Nẵng in November 2017, and proposed the two sides arrange time for a visit to New Zealand by Việt Nam’s National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân.
President Quang hailed the talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and Minister Muray McCully.
The two countries’ foreign ministries have maximised efforts to boost bilateral co-operation by signing the Việt Nam-New Zealand Action Programme for 2017-20.
The bilateral defence-security partnership has been thriving with the visit of a New Zealand naval ship to Đà Nẵng Port early this month.
President Quang proposed New Zealand increase training of English and peacekeeping skills for Việt Nam as well as support the Southeast Asian country to improve law enforcement at sea, share experience in addressing post-war consequences, and expand collaboration in transnational crime prevention.
He thanked New Zealand for providing official development assistance for Việt Nam and affirmed the funds have been efficiently used for the country’s development.
The President said Việt Nam is pushing ahead with industrialisation and modernisation, restructuring the economy and reforming the growth model, and enhancing trade and economic co-operation with regional countries, with New Zealand a priority.
He praised the co-ordination of the two countries at multilateral organisations and forums such as the East Asia Summit, the APEC forum, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the United Nations.
The two nations should enhance co-operation and mutual support at multilateral organisations and forums to cope with regional and global challenges, he said.
For his part, Minister McCully said during his talks with Deputy PM Minh, the two sides agreed to boost bilateral co-operation and to elevate Việt Nam-New Zealand relations to a strategic partnership within two or three years.
He affirmed that New Zealand will support Việt Nam to host the APEC Year 2017, especially the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Đà Nẵng, and support Việt Nam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2020-21 tenure.
The Minister welcomed Việt Nam’s efforts to improve its investment climate to draw foreign investors, saying New Zealand wants to step up trade, economic, and investment ties with Việt Nam to take advantage of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement.
New Zealand also wants to collaborate with Việt Nam in agriculture, education-training, security-defence, and support the country in peacekeeping activities and bomb-and-mine clearance. — VNS