Viet Nam, New Zealand agree to further open up markets for agricultural products

The above agreement was reached by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during their summit meeting in Ha Noi on Monday.

Ardern affirmed New Zealand always attaches importance to enhancing the relationship with Viet Nam and considers the Southeast Asian country one of its key strategic partners in ASEAN and in the region.

Meanwhile, Pham warmly welcomed Ardern to Viet Nam, expressing his belief that her ongoing visit would contribute to consolidating the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

He congratulated New Zealand on successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic recovery and development efforts, and thanked the oceanic country for donating COVID-19 vaccines and equipment to Viet Nam.

Pham appreciated New Zealand for maintaining official development assistance for Viet Nam, suggesting the ODA should be focused on agriculture, climate change adaptation, healthcare, and innovation.

The two sides were delighted at the practical and effective development of the bilateral ties over the past time and hailed both countries' efforts in realizing the action plan to implement the strategic partnership for the 2021-2024 period.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to promote the exchange of delegations and contacts across the Party, National Assembly, and Government channels, and mull over fresh cooperation frameworks and mechanisms.

They hailed new progress in defense-security and judicial cooperation, and agreed to expand seek opportunities to expand cooperation in other areas like military industry, military medicine, peace-keeping, cybersecurity, trans-national crime combat, anti-terrorism, national disaster mitigation.

Both sides agreed to commence talks and sign agreements on extradition and transfer of sentenced persons, and civil and criminal judicial assistance.

The two leaders expressed support for stronger and closer coordination at regional and international forums. Prime Minister Ardern affirmed New Zealand attaches importance to the strategic partnership with ASEAN and backs ASEAN centrality.

On the East Sea issue, the two leaders underlined the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; accelerating dialogue, trust building; settling disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea./.