Wellington (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister PhamMinh Chinh and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon co-chaired a pressconference following their talks in Wellington on March 11 morning, saying theyagreed to promote all-round cooperation to raise the two countries’ relationsto a new height.

PM Chinh noted that during the talks, the two sidesdiscussed a wide range of areas of cooperation and outlined orientations for the Vietnam - New Zealandstrategic partnership to continue growing strongly in the time ahead.

In particular, the countries will stabilise and consolidatethe strategic trust and political - diplomatic cooperation to create a solid foundationfor bilateral ties. They will enhance and expand cooperation in all the importantpillars of their strategic partnership, including economy - trade -investment, security - defence, agriculture, and people-to-people exchange. In addition,they will accelerate and make breakthrough in the partnerships in science -technology, innovation, green economy, digital economy, environmentallyfriendly technology transfer, agriculture, and such emerging sectors as artificialintelligence, semiconductor, maritime economy, environmental protection,labour, and vocational training.

The two sides agreed to establish working groups to step upthe fruitful implementation of cooperation deals, he said.

Looking into some regional and international issues of sharedconcern, they agreed to coordinate closely and support each other, especiallyat the United Nations, the ASEAN-led forums, the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC), and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). They also concurred inboosting dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, together effectivelyresponding to common challenges in the region, and fostering cooperation in theMekong sub-region, the Vietnamese PM said.

Regarding the East Sea issue, he went on, the twosides re-affirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security,safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters; not using orthreatening to use force; and peacefully resolving disputes on the basis ofinternational law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).They agreed to exchange opinions and information, increase maritimecooperation, and make joint efforts to turn the East Sea into an area of peace,stability, friendship, cooperation, and development.

For his part, PM Luxon told the media that duringthe talks, the two sides made commitments to the building of an Asia-Pacific regionof peace, stability, cooperation, and development that generates benefits forboth countries and their peoples.

Vietnam and New Zealand will promote cooperationin all fields, including politics, diplomacy, economy - trade - investment, agriculture,tourism, and people-to-people exchange.

Bilateral trade has been rising continuously, by60% over the last five years, he noted, adding that they aim to raise thetrade revenue to 2 billion USD in 2024 and soon double bilateral investmentthrough appropriate measures.

The two countries also agreed to jointly build andimplement plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the host leader announced.

He went on to say that he and his Vietnamese guest believethat there remains huge room for the Vietnam - New Zealand cooperation, so thetwo sides should work to maximise potential, including by holding activities aiming for practical and breakthrough results in 2025 – the 50th anniversary oftheir diplomatic relations, so as to elevate bilateral ties to a new level.

Both sides shared the view that with theachievements obtained so far and the determination of the two countries’leaders and peoples, the Vietnam - New Zealand relations will keep growingstrongly, substantively, and effectively to practically benefit the two peoplesand contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development inAsia-Pacific and the world, according to Luxon.

Following the press conference, the two PMswitnessed the signing of several deals, including an agreement on educationalcooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and EducationNew Zealand, an agreement on economic and trade cooperation between theVietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry ofForeign Affairs and Trade, and a memorandum of understanding between theVietnamese Ministry of Finance and the New Zealand Treasury./.