Receiving Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who is in Hanoi for a four-day visit, Trong thanked New Zealand for its support to Vietnam over the years, including in implementing the action programme for the two countries’ strategic partnership for 2021-2024 and supporting Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control.
He welcomed the results of earlier talks between Jacinda Ardern and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and the signing of a number of cooperation documents which he said would help strengthen political ties, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Vietnam expects the New Zealand PM’s visit will open up a new chapter in bilateral relations on the back of the achievements the two countries have recorded in human resource development, education and training, agriculture and rural development, among others, said Trong.
For her part, Ardern briefed the host on her visit, saying New Zealand wants to foster the strategic partnership with Vietnam. She expressed her delight at the positive development of bilateral relations, especially in economic-trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Ardern highly appreciated the similarities in the two countries’ foreign policies, which are peace-loving, independence and self-reliance, as well as their desire to resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means.
The two leaders discussed international and regional issues of common concern, emphasizing the importance of promoting trust, dialogue, and cooperation in finding solutions to international affairs, while strengthening coordination at multilateral forums for peace and cooperation in the region and the wider world.