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New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford shared this perspective in an interview with the press ahead of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's official visit to Vietnam and his participation in the second ASEAN Future Forum from February 25-28, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington, March 2024. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

What is the significance of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's upcoming official visit to Vietnam, particularly as our two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 – June 19, 2025)?

This visit to Vietnam is of great importance to New Zealand, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has an ambitious agenda for strengthening ties with Southeast Asia.

New Zealand’s current foreign policy positions Vietnam as one of its most important partners in the region and globally.

Accompanying Prime Minister Luxon is a large trade delegation, not only to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations but also to reinforce and expand ties with a key partner like Vietnam.

If the bilateral relationship were a piece of fabric with interwoven threads, Prime Minister Luxon's visit is expected to make these threads even stronger and the fabric’s structure more resilient amid today's volatile global landscape.

Beyond traditional areas of cooperation between the two countries, such as agriculture and education, what new fields of collaboration could emerge from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to Vietnam?

We hope this visit will open up new business opportunities. As I mentioned, around 25 business leaders from New Zealand will accompany the Prime Minister as part of the trade delegation. On this occasion, they will sign cooperation agreements with partners in Vietnam.

Therefore, we can expect a range of new areas of collaboration while continuing to strengthen traditional partnerships. By applying New Zealand’s expertise in research, science, and technology to key sectors like agriculture and education, we can add value to these industries and drive economic growth for both countries.

"New Zealand’s current foreign policy positions Vietnam as one of its most important partners in the region and globally." — Caroline Beresford, New Zealand ambassador to Vietnam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington, March 2024. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

What are the key areas of cooperation that Vietnam and New Zealand could focus on in the future?

I believe the best way to maximize our mutual benefits is to identify complementary strengths—areas where New Zealand excels and Vietnam is looking to enhance, or vice versa. Both of our countries have well-defined economic growth strategies, and we will seek areas of collaboration that support each other's development plans.

One of my key priorities during my tenure in Vietnam is to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between policymakers, scientists, and innovators from both countries. New Zealand has a long history of innovation and a strong scientific and research community. By integrating advanced technologies into traditional sectors, we can enhance efficiency and create greater value. I believe these are areas where Vietnam and New Zealand can work together effectively.

For instance, through advanced agricultural technology, we have been collaborating with Vietnam to develop crop varieties that produce lower emissions, supporting Vietnam’s emissions reduction goals. At the same time, high-value, naturally cultivated fruits with strong international market potential can boost Vietnam’s agricultural exports.

During his visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to attend and deliver a keynote speech at the second ASEAN Future Forum. Could you share your thoughts on the significance of his presence at this event?

I am pleased that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be attending the second ASEAN Future Forum. New Zealand strongly supports this initiative, and we sincerely thank Vietnam for establishing this regional platform to discuss ASEAN’s future.

At a time of global uncertainty and regional challenges, ASEAN’s central role is crucial in maintaining stability and prosperity for all people in the region. That is why New Zealand remains deeply committed to supporting ASEAN, and it is also why the Prime Minister places great importance on this forum.

Prime Minister Luxon aims to reaffirm New Zealand’s strong support for ASEAN and to collaborate with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in sharing perspectives on this vital relationship with the ASEAN Community.

Notably, this year marks the 5th anniversary of the New Zealand-ASEAN strategic partnership. New Zealand was ASEAN’s second dialogue partner, following Australia by only a short period. Our cooperation programs with ASEAN are just as extensive as our bilateral relationship with Vietnam.

Over the next two years, Vietnam will serve as New Zealand’s dialogue partner within the ASEAN framework. This presents a key opportunity for both countries to enhance collaboration across multiple sectors. We hope to strengthen and elevate this partnership to new heights, contributing together to the region’s shared development.

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