(photo: chinhphu.vn)

Vietnam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on June 19, 1975. Vietnam has consistently prioritized strengthening relationships with regional partners like New Zealand while New Zealand values its relationship with Vietnam and views Vietnam as a key component of its Asia-Pacific policy.

Close bilateral relations

Vietnam-New Zealand relations have consistently advanced through high-level visits, contacts, and cooperation mechanisms. In 2023 and 2024, Vietnam became New Zealand's 12th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching 1.3 billion USD. New Zealand has 55 ongoing investment projects in Vietnam, worth 208 million USD, focusing on education, training, agro-forestry, fisheries, and construction. Vietnam has invested nearly 44 million USD in New Zealand, focusing on manufacturing, processing, hospitality services, wholesale and retail trade, and agriculture.

Bilateral cooperation in climate change adaptation and energy transition have achieved positive outcomes. Reviewing 50 years of bilateral ties, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford said: "“In the last 50 years, we’ve come a long way. Our relationship has developed in many many ways, like new strands to make the fabric stronger and and wider than it was 50 years ago. We work together across the fields such as agriculture sustainability, climate change, research, and education.”

Following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s successful visit to New Zealand in March 2024, the relationship between the two countries continues to thrive.

New cooperation opportunities

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s official visit to Vietnam coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand and the 5th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Accompanying Prime Minister Luxon is a delegation of 20 New Zealand business leaders, creating an opportunity for the business communities of the two countries to connect and partner. A number of cooperation agreements in education, trade, aviation, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation will be signed during the visit. Ambassador Beresford said the visit will create an opportunity for the two countries to expand bilateral cooperation.

"The Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam with a large trade delegation is not only to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations but also to reinforce and expand our relationship with such an important partner as Vietnam. If you think of a relationship as a piece of fabric, the relationship architecture is like strands of fiber woven together to make the fabric stronger. In this sense his visit to Vietnam is designed to tighten our relations together, especially in an uncertain environment that we live in today, the fabric of our relationship remains strong," said Ambassador Beresford.

During his first visit to Vietnam since taking office, Prime Minister Luxon will attend the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum. Luxon prioritizes strengthening relations with ASEAN and Southeast Asian countries, with Vietnam being one of New Zealand’s most important partners. The leaders of both countries are expected to engage in in-depth discussions on global and regional issues and build political trust.

Ambassador Beresford says New Zealand appreciates Vietnam's role in hosting the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum at a time when the world faces many uncertainties and will continue to strengthen its relationship with ASEAN and Vietnam within the ASEAN framework in a more effective and practical manner.