Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and spouse left Hà Nội on March 11 to make official visits to New Zealand and Australia. — VNA/VNS Photo |
HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc together with his spouse and a high-level delegation left Hà Nội on March 11 to visit New Zealand from March 11-14 at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The Vietnamese PM will also visit Australia and attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney from March 14-18 at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
PM Phúc will be accompanied by several high-ranking Government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uông Chu Lưu, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tiến Dũng, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng, Minister of Trade and Industry Trần Tuấn Anh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngọc Anh and Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Đào Ngọc Dung, among others.
Việt Nam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in 1975. Việt Nam is New Zealand’s 16th largest trade partner with the two-way trade hitting US$1.2 billion in 2017. The two nations hope to raise bilateral trade to $1.7 billion by 2020.
Việt Nam and Australia celebrated the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties early this year.
The two nations enjoy sound bilateral trade with average annual growth standing at 12.5 per cent and trade value exceeding $9 billion in 2017. Australia has 378 projects valued at $1.7 billion in Việt Nam, focusing on industry and construction, services, education, processing industry and agro-forestry-fisheries.
Việt Nam and Australia are expected to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s visit. — VNS