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New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to make his first official visit to Vietnam since taking office in November 2023. His foreign policy agenda has been shaped by a "reset" approach to international relations, prioritizing Southeast Asia just behind Australia and neighboring Pacific Island nations.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during their meeting in Wellington in March 2024. (Photo: VNA)

According to a report by the New Zealand Times on February 21, Prime Minister Luxon stated, "Vietnam is a rising star in Southeast Asia and one of the fastest-growing economies in the region."

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. My visit will further strengthen our ties, solidify existing trade, and unlock more opportunities for New Zealand businesses to increase income and create jobs back home," he added.

Ahead of the visit, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford confirmed that several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during this trip.

She emphasized that the visit, accompanied by a large business delegation, not only commemorates five decades of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 - June 19, 2025) but also aims to expand and deepen ties with a key partner like Vietnam.

"If we consider our relationship as a fabric, then its structure is woven with interlaced threads, making it stronger. In a way, the Prime Minister’s visit seeks to further tighten these bonds so that, despite today’s global uncertainties, our relationship remains resilient," the Ambassador explained.

The visit is expected to open new business opportunities, with accompanying trade delegations set to sign cooperation agreements with Vietnamese partners, particularly in education, food, and beverages.

"Our Prime Minister has an ambitious agenda for New Zealand’s engagement with Southeast Asia. His government has acted swiftly to reset our foreign policy, and as part of that agenda, we have identified Vietnam as one of our most important partners in the region and globally," Ambassador Beresford remarked.

She further highlighted that in today’s geopolitical landscape, it is essential for nations like Vietnam and New Zealand—both committed to peace, security, stability, and prosperity—to work closely together to uphold shared values. In this context, she viewed the elevation of Vietnam-New Zealand relations as a logical step.

Ambassador Beresford, who has spent 25 years in foreign affairs and worked in five countries, including the United States, expressed admiration for Vietnam’s systematic and well-structured policy-making approach, describing it as highly impressive and a model from which both the region and the world could learn.

"New Zealand has ambitious economic growth plans, though from a much smaller base than Vietnam. When Prime Minister Luxon visits next week, I will tell him that if he returns in five years, he may not recognize Vietnam. This is truly an inspiring nation, growing at a pace that amazes the world," she added.

She reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to contributing to Vietnam’s development story as a trusted partner and sincere friend. While New Zealand’s contributions to Vietnam’s progress may be modest, they are built on a solid foundation of strategic trust. This visit is aimed at strengthening that trust, demonstrating New Zealand’s respect for Vietnam’s leadership, and affirming its commitment to developing a strategic partnership.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung described Prime Minister Luxon’s visit as historically significant, helping to realize the aspirations of both nations' people in a new era.

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to New Zealand in March 2024, both sides reaffirmed their political will and determination to accelerate trade, targeting a bilateral trade turnover of US$3 billion by 2026.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung, Vietnam and New Zealand have complementary economic strengths, particularly in sectors of strategic significance for both countries’ futures. As members of multiple key regional free trade agreements, they have opportunities to leverage trade, economic cooperation, and investment benefits.

Education and training remain strong areas of collaboration, yielding tangible results. An increasing number of Vietnamese students choose New Zealand for higher education due to its high-quality system and attractive scholarships. New Zealand, in turn, is supporting Vietnam in training experts, senior managers, scientific researchers, and skilled workers.

With strong commitments to tackling climate change, both nations are expanding cooperation in renewable energy, environmental protection, and high-tech sustainable agriculture. New Zealand can assist Vietnam in advancing technology and solutions for carbon emission reduction. Their partnership is also extending into new fields such as green economy, digital economy, knowledge economy, circular economy, and energy transition, aligning with climate change commitments.

On the international stage, Vietnam and New Zealand share common interests and perspectives in regional affairs, providing growing opportunities for collaboration in fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific. Their cooperation is not only driven by economic and trade benefits but also by strategic interests.

Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung concluded that with a solid relationship foundation and deep mutual goodwill, Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation holds strong growth potential in the years ahead. Strengthening political trust, making breakthroughs in economic and trade cooperation, innovating in education partnerships, and expanding into emerging fields will help both nations fully capitalize on their cooperation potential and work toward a prosperous future together.

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