President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson. (Photo: VNA)

New Zealand has become an important economic partner of Vietnam, he said, adding that two-way trade has continuously expanded over the past years.

President Phuc urged the ambassador to join efforts to promote the exchange of all-level delegations between the two countries, carry out meetings both online and in-person, reach an action programme to deploy the Vietnam-New Zealand strategic partnership this year, and facilitate the travel of people as well as trade and investment ties.

Vietnam always creates optimal conditions for New Zealand businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian nation, he promised.

The President said the two sides should enhance connection between high schools and universities, and cooperation in vocational training, continue with scholarship schemes, recover tourism collaboration, and step up the people-to-people exchange.

He used this occasion to thank New Zealand for donating 30,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Vietnam.

Vietnam highly evaluated New Zealand’s leadership in APEC Year 2021 when the world faces unprecedented challenges, he said, stressing that Vietnam supports the draft Declaration of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and the plan to implement the APEC Vision until 2040.

Vietnam will cooperate with New Zealand to ensure the success of this year’s APEC events, President Phuc pledged.

For her part, Dobson said many New Zealand people are interested in Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), and expressed her wish for stronger cultural exchange between the two countries.

She recalled the announcement by then PM Phuc and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern of upgrading Vietnam-New Zealand relations to a strategic partnership in July 2020, marking the 45th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The ambassador said she is trying her best to promote the bilateral relationship, making it match cooperation potential of the two countries.

On this occasion, President Phuc asked the ambassador to convey his invitation to PM Ardern to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

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