New Zealand Parliament Speaker begins official visit to Viet Nam
VGP - Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee arrived in Ha Noi on August 27 for a five-day official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of top Vietnamese legislator Tran Thanh Man.
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee (L) arrives in Ha Noi
Brownlee and his entourage were welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan, New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam Caroline Rachel Beresford, and officials from the embassy.
The visit takes place as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 – 2025). It is expected to help consolidate political trust, deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and enhance bilateral cooperation in a more practical and effective manner.
Parliamentary relations between Viet Nam and New Zealand have grown steadily in both scope and substance. A cooperation agreement signed in December 2016 created a solid legal framework for exchanges, which have been reinforced by regular high-level visits and interactions between parliamentary committees and friendship groups.
Brownlee's trip is expected to further advance parliamentary diplomacy, promote the sharing of legislative and supervisory experience, and expand exchanges among committees and friendship groups. Both sides will also work to diversify cooperation, including through stronger engagement among women and young parliamentarians, while continuing close coordination at multilateral forums such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF)./.
