Top legislator holds talks with New Zealand House Speaker
VGP - Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man held talks with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Ha Noi on Thursday.
Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (R) holds talks with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Ha Noi, August 28, 2025 - Photo: VNA
Tran spoke highly of the visit of New Zealand's top legislator, adding that it is an important milestone, marking a new step forward in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in parliamentary diplomacy.
He called on the two sides to strengthen and deepen political relations via high-level visits and exchanges between legislative committees, friendship parliamentary groups, and young parliamentarians' groups of the two legislatures.
The host suggested that the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs soon finalize an action program for implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
He emphasized the importance of further deepening defense and security ties to contribute to safeguarding each country's national security while making practical contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world.
The Vietnamese legislator urged New Zealand to support training and capacity-building for Viet Nam peacekeeping forces.
The two sides should make breakthroughs to raise bilateral trade turnover to US$3 billion by 2026 and make full use of the advantages offered by free trade agreements (FTAs) to which both are signatories, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), he noted.
He hailed New Zealand's initiative on the agreement on climate change, trade and sustainability, expecting to learn from New Zealand's experience in developing clean and high-tech agriculture.
Both countries should expand collaboration in education and training, labor, tourism, and establish direct flights to boost people-to-people exchanges, he said, suggesting New Zealand increase the visa quota for Vietnamese citizens participating in the Visa Working Holiday New Zealand.
He recommended that the two legislative bodies enhance delegation exchanges, coordinate closely and support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums, share law-making and supreme supervision experience, as well as strengthen ties between parliamentary agencies.
Viet Nam hopes to make practical contributions to promoting ASEAN–New Zealand relations, including efforts toward establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework between ASEAN and New Zealand, and organizing a special summit in 2025 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN–New Zealand relations, said the host.
Brownlee, for his part, emphasized the role of the two legislatures in listening to the voices of the people, thereby contributing to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and the friendship between the two countries.
New Zealand stands ready to consider increasing imports of Viet Nam's export products into New Zealand, thereby helping bilateral trade grow and soon reach the target of US$3 billion, stated the guest.
They vowed to work closely and support each other at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea, thereby contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region./.
