Joint Statement on Promoting Vietnam-New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership
At the end of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's visit, Vietnam and New Zealand issued a Joint Statement on promoting comprehensive partnership towards strategic partnership.
At the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation paid a State visit to New Zealand from March 12-14.
At the end of the visit, the two sides issued a Joint Statement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and New Zealand on promoting the comprehensive partnership towards a strategic partnership between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and New Zealand.
VietnamPlus respectfully introduces the full text of the Joint Statement:
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| New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomes Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
Political cooperation
The two sides noted the exchange of recent high-level visits, including the state visit to Vietnam by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lieutenant General Jerry Mataparae in August 2013; the official visit to New Zealand by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in March 2015; the official visit to Vietnam by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in November 2015; and the visit to Vietnam to attend the APEC Summit by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in November 2017.
The two leaders agreed to further strengthen the exchange of high-level visits; maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Economic and Trade Commission, the Bilateral Defense Dialogue and Political Consultations, to discuss issues of mutual concern such as climate change, regional architecture, consular affairs, cooperation on human rights issues and others. |
| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews the honor guard at the welcoming ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
Acknowledging the positive development momentum of bilateral relations since the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership in 2009, the two Prime Ministers agreed to promote the Comprehensive Partnership and assigned relevant ministries and branches of both sides to actively and effectively implement the Action Program 2017-2020, promptly completing exchanges and consultations in 2019 on upgrading the relationship to a Strategic Partnership in the near future as agreed upon by both sides.
Defense and security
The two sides acknowledged recent positive steps in bilateral defense cooperation such as the signing of the Vietnam-New Zealand Action Plan on Defense Cooperation 2018-2021 and the Agreement on Implementation of Peacekeeping Training and Cooperation, as well as exchanges of high-level defense delegations.
The two leaders also welcomed further expansion of cooperation in the field of defense and security, including defense industry and defense research, cyber security, counter-terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and illegal migration. The two sides agreed to discuss existing legal frameworks as well as other potential legal frameworks for cooperation in these areas.
Trade and investment
The two Prime Ministers noted that bilateral trade turnover is currently at a record high, with two-way trade in goods and services reaching 1.24 billion USD in 2017, up 32% compared to 2016 and three times higher than in 2009. The two leaders expressed confidence that the trade turnover target of 1.7 billion USD will be achieved by 2020; welcomed the signing of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement on this occasion; and requested the early organization of the 6th Session of the Joint Committee on Trade and Investment.
The two sides committed to implementing bilateral and unilateral measures to reduce two-way trade barriers, especially in agricultural products. Accordingly, the appointment of an Agricultural Counselor to the Embassy of New Zealand later this year, as well as the announcement of the Health and Safety Import Plan for Rambutan and the Cooperation Agreement on Food Safety and Quality Management during the visit were important steps and positive signals of enhanced cooperation in this field. The two leaders noted that cooperation between customs agencies and a joint customs working program would further facilitate trade between the two countries.
The two Prime Ministers noted that two-way investment remains inadequate and agreed to call for increased investment in high-tech agriculture, green and renewable energy, and infrastructure.
Development cooperation
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the positive impact of New Zealand’s development assistance to Vietnam, highlighting key projects on dragon fruit commercialisation, clean vegetable production, dam safety, scholarships and English language training. New Zealand will continue to invest NZ$29 million over a three-year period ending in July 2018.
The two leaders committed to continue substantive cooperation in the coming years, sharing New Zealand’s experience and technology to create real change in Vietnam’s priority areas such as agriculture, disaster risk management, knowledge and skills, and renewable energy; and building strong and sustainable links between government agencies, universities, research institutes, businesses and NGOs of the two countries. The two Prime Ministers agreed to strengthen the annual consultation mechanism on development cooperation led by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and its New Zealand counterpart.
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the Vietnam-New Zealand Business Forum. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA) |
On this occasion, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced two new projects, including a three-year cooperation program (worth NZ$1.5 million) to support Vietnamese farmers and food processing facilities to modernize production, produce safe food and increase income; and a renewable energy pilot project (worth NZ$0.5 million) to support the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam to develop a wholesale electricity market, helping to increase the efficiency and use of renewable energy.
The two leaders welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute for Food and Crop Research and Vietnam General Export-Import Joint Stock Company No. 1 (Generalexim) on cooperation in avocado development in Dak Nong province and a new collaborative project between the New Zealand Soil Research Institute and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on safely reducing pre- and post-harvest damage caused by rats in rice.
Education and training
The two Prime Ministers noted that cooperation in education and training between Vietnam and New Zealand is growing strongly and is one of the pillars of the current bilateral relationship as well as the future Strategic Partnership. The two leaders welcomed the signing of the new Strategic Engagement Plan on Education for the period 2018-2020; aiming to increase the number of Vietnamese students in New Zealand by 30% by 2020 through encouraging student exchanges and joint programmes between universities and other cooperation in both countries.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed New Zealand's regular promotion and implementation of the Working Holiday Programme; expressed Vietnam's readiness to receive New Zealand citizens under this programme.
Connecting and exchanging people
The two Prime Ministers noted the rapid increase in tourist arrivals between the two countries, with the number of Vietnamese visitors to New Zealand increasing by more than 32% and the number of New Zealand visitors to Vietnam increasing by more than 19% last year thanks to the establishment of direct flights between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City by Air New Zealand since 2016. The two leaders proposed expanding air connectivity and further promoting tourism between the two countries.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed Vietnam's inclusion of New Zealand in the list of countries eligible for e-visas, considering this a positive step in simplifying entry procedures for New Zealand visitors, following New Zealand's application of e-visas for Vietnamese citizens since 2016.
The two sides acknowledged the achievements of the Vietnamese community living in New Zealand; highly appreciated their contributions to the development of Vietnam and New Zealand as well as further strengthening the bilateral relationship.
Regional and international cooperation
The two sides continue to cooperate closely at multilateral and regional forums such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and East Asia Summit (EAS) to enhance regional prosperity, address regional security challenges and enhance cooperation on issues of mutual concern.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reaffirmed New Zealand's support for Vietnam's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term; and said she is ready to advise and share New Zealand's experience gained from its success during the 2015-2016 term.
New Zealand and Vietnam recognized the critical importance of deepening regional economic integration and supporting trade liberalization in the Asia-Pacific region to ensure prosperity for their respective countries. The two leaders welcomed the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on 8 March 2018 in Chile; and reaffirmed their commitment to promptly ratify and implement the agreement in the coming period.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to achieving an advanced, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial outcome in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations. They agreed to continue cooperation to promote fossil fuel subsidy reform.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Vietnam's successful hosting of APEC in 2017 and welcomed Vietnam's proposal to share its experience to help New Zealand prepare to host APEC in 2021.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed the growing cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand, especially in areas that can help ASEAN build a successful Community. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reaffirmed New Zealand’s strong support for ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture. In the important year of 2020, when Vietnam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship, ASEAN and New Zealand celebrate the 45th anniversary of their partnership and the 5th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership. Vietnam welcomes New Zealand’s initiatives to enhance the significance of these milestones.
The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the East Sea through seriously implementing international commitments, respecting legal and diplomatic processes, peacefully resolving disputes and maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two leaders encouraged the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked the Government and people of New Zealand for their warm welcome. He invited Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to pay an official visit to Vietnam at a mutually convenient time; and conveyed President Tran Dai Quang's invitation to Governor-General of New Zealand, Ms. Patsy Reddy, to pay a state visit to Vietnam at a mutually convenient time./.
