Auckland, (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a working session with thegroup of Vietnamese professionals working in New Zealand (VietTech NZ) inAuckland on March 10 as part of his official visit to NZ.

The group’srepresentatives introduced the Government leader to the potential and specificprojects and programmes that they have been implementing to support Vietnam or cooperatingwith Vietnamese partners in various areas such as sci-tech, education-training,health care, energy, trade, planning and environment.

Theyproposed that the Vietnamese Government create suitable mechanisms and methodsto enable overseas Vietnamese to participate in domestic incubators and viceversa, while supporting the development of a global network of Vietnamesescientists, including those in NZ.

They alsosuggested that Vietnam re-open air routes to NA and exempt visa to facilitatetravelling of NZ-based Vietnamese intellectuals to Vietnam for cooperation.

PM Chinhappreciated their suggestions and assigned relevant agencies to considermeasures to enhance connectivity with overseas Vietnamese intellectuals.

Notingthat there is great room for sci-tech cooperation between Vietnam and NZ toexpand, Chinh asked the VietTech NZ to play a greater role in connecting thetechnology community between Vietnam and NZ, and strengthen their connectionwith the Global Forum of Vietnamese Young Intellectuals so as tocontribute more effectively to Vietnam’s development.

Healso requested the group to engage in joint research and cooperative activitiesin science-technology, digital transformation, agriculture, climate changeresponse, biology, health care, among others, with Vietnamese partners.

Thesame day, the PM received Professor Neil Quigley,Vice Chancellor of Waikato University and Chair of the Reserve Bank of NZ.

Chinhappreciated the Waikato University’s close cooperation with the VietnameseMinistry of Education and Training and joint programmes with Vietnamese universities.

Heproposed that the university expand cooperation in human resource developmentwith Vietnam through such activities as opening more branches in Vietnam,granting scholarships, and exchanging lecturers and teaching curricula.  

PM Chinhalso ask Prof Quigley, in his position as Chair of the Reserve Bank of NZ, tosupport cooperation and experience sharing with Vietnam in building macro policiesin governing interest rate and foreign exchange, credit and banking, and give adviceto Vietnam in striving to become a financial hub in Southeast Asia.

Prof.Quigley expressed his support of the Vietnamese PM’s suggestion, saying that heappreciated Vietnam’s macroeconomic governance, monetary policy and inflation controlmeasures.

On theoccasion, Waikato University and several Vietnamese universities exchanged fourcooperation agreements and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Sonpresented the “For the Cause of Vietnam’s Education” insignia to Prof. Quigley.

PM Chinh alsohosted a reception for Auckland Business Chamberchief executive Simon Bridges and executives of several NZcompanies on March 10, during which he called for the business community’sresolve and efforts to raise bilateral trade to 2 billion USD.
Heaffirmed that the fields which NZ firms are interested in in Vietnam have greatpotential and are in line with Vietnam’s priorities, urging NZ firms tocontinue working with Vietnamese ministries and agencies on specific projects.

The NZ businessdelegates asked the Vietnamese Government to continue creating favourableconditions for investment and business activities in Vietnamese, citing someareas such as renewable energy, real estate, aviation and fruit and vegetablestrade./.