Joint Statement on Upgrading Vietnam-New Zealand Relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

1.At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from February 25 to 28, 2025. During the official visit, Mr. Christopher Luxon held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, greeted General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, President of Vietnam Luong Cuong and Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man.

2.Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975 and the Strategic Partnership in 2020, Vietnam and New Zealand have shared a common vision for a stable and prosperous region. The relationship between the two countries has grown strongly in recent years, with the closeness and cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand being continuously strengthened, both bilaterally and within sub-regional, regional and multilateral frameworks.

3.Based on the good relationship, shared common interests and mutual trust, the two Prime Ministers agreed to officially upgrade the bilateral relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In the coming year, the two sides will develop a Joint Action Program to propose specific initiatives within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on strengthening five main pillars of cooperation, including: (i) political cooperation; (ii) defense, security, maritime cooperation; (iii) economy, trade and investment; (iv) climate change response, science and technology; (v) education and people-to-people exchange.

4.The two Prime Ministers also reviewed the important achievements made within the framework of the current Strategic Partnership, across all pillars including political cooperation, defence and security, trade, investment, economic connectivity and multilateral cooperation. Both sides agreed that the objective of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is to strengthen the existing framework for cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the country and globally.

I. Strengthening political relations

5.Since 2020, the Strategic Partnership has facilitated the two sides to enhance political cooperation through regular high-level exchanges through Party, Government and National Assembly channels, especially regular meetings between the two Prime Ministers. Vietnam and New Zealand agreed to continue to enhance exchanges between Senior Leaders, Ministers and senior officials at bilateral, regional and multilateral forums on the basis of respect for international law, equality, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two sides will increase cooperation on multilateral, sub-regional and regional issues through both government and parliamentary channels.

6.The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN centrality and reaffirmed ASEAN’s core role in the evolving regional architecture – an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based architecture, built on ASEAN-led mechanisms, protecting the sovereignty and interests of all countries.

7.The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ASEAN-New Zealand relations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue relations. They looked forward to marking this important milestone at the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit and related events in October 2025. New Zealand welcomed Viet Nam as the country coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue relations. Viet Nam welcomed New Zealand’s intention to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN by 2025.

8.The two sides agreed to further deepen cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and enhance Track 2 diplomatic cooperation by promoting regular exchanges on strategic issues between research institutes of the two countries.

II. Deepening defense, security and maritime cooperation

9.In recent years, the two sides have strengthened defense cooperation through high-level defense visits, strategic dialogues, education and training, capacity building for participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, information exchange, naval cooperation and enhanced cooperation at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Forum Plus (ADMM+). Based on the recently agreed Defense Cooperation Plan, the two sides will continue to promote dialogue through existing mechanisms, while studying the possibility of expanding cooperation in potential areas, in line with the Vietnam-New Zealand relationship as well as the capacity, needs and interests of each country.

10.The two sides stressed the importance of sharing information and enhancing cooperation on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern such as climate change, e-government, joint contributions to the UN Human Rights Council, science and technology, counter-terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking. The two sides agreed to consider the possibility of negotiating and signing bilateral agreements in this area in accordance with each side's practice.

11.The two sides welcomed the holding of the first Maritime Dialogue, which marked the beginning of a regular dialogue on approaches to addressing maritime challenges and exploring opportunities to enhance civil maritime cooperation through knowledge sharing, capacity building and training. The two sides pledged to continue working closely to implement other maritime cooperation programmes.

III. Promoting closer economic, trade and investment partnerships

12.Economic, trade and investment cooperation is the main focus of the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the talks, the two Prime Ministers emphasized that trade cooperation is a key factor in the bilateral relationship, for the direct benefit of the people and businesses of the two countries. The two sides agreed to set a two-way trade target of US$3 billion by 2026. To achieve that goal, the two sides agreed to coordinate in developing standards and techniques to facilitate trade, exchange information, promote market access and cooperation between customs authorities and other relevant agencies of the two countries.

13.The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing regional economic integration; agreed to firmly support a rules-based, free, open, transparent and inclusive multilateral trading system, including reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully and effectively implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).

IV. Promoting cooperation on climate change, science, and technology

14.New Zealand affirmed to continue expanding cooperation through bilateral and regional official development assistance, especially in areas that are New Zealand's strengths and Vietnam's priorities such as high-quality human resource development, women's empowerment and gender equality, climate change and economic resilience, sustainable water management, agriculture and disaster risk management.

15.The two sides acknowledged the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the latest conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the importance of adaptation to climate impacts, and reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives of the Paris Agreement. They pledged to support existing initiatives to which they are both members, including the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. They share the goal of mitigating the impacts of climate change and preparing for future impacts, through a transition to a zero-emission economy in an equitable, inclusive, efficient, evidence-based manner, facilitating private investment, access to modern technologies and knowledge sharing. To this end, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change Cooperation to enhance cooperation on climate change adaptation and mitigation, including cooperation on carbon markets.

16.The two sides pledged to continue to strengthen cooperation in agriculture to support Vietnam to become a modern agricultural producer and adapt to climate change; this will be done through joint research, cooperation and action on climate change, climate-smart agriculture, technical assistance for certification of plant quarantine laboratories, plant breeding and commercialization of agricultural products.

V. Strengthening educational cooperation and people-to-people exchange

17.People-to-people exchanges, particularly through education and training cooperation, are a key area of ​​the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In recent years, the number of Vietnamese students studying in New Zealand, New Zealand students studying in Vietnam; joint programmes between higher education institutions of the two countries; cooperation in professional and vocational English training; New Zealand scholarships for Vietnamese officials and students, scholarships for New Zealand students, and delegation exchanges between teachers, students and scholars of the two countries have increased. New Zealand is committed to increasing training support for central and local officials of Vietnam, including English language training.

18.The leaders of the two countries highly appreciated the implementation of the Education Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Ministry of Education of New Zealand signed in November 2022. During Prime Minister Luxon's visit to Vietnam, the New Zealand Government announced an increase in the number of scholarships, affirmed the continued implementation of the ELTO program and supported Vietnam in English language training. The two sides also encouraged and supported higher education institutions of the two countries to implement joint training programs.

19.The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in culture, sports and tourism, including delegation exchanges, participation in cultural and sports events and international tourism fairs. The two sides also agreed on the importance of increasing flights between the two countries.

VI. Strengthening regional, sub-regional and multilateral cooperation

20.The two sides stressed the importance of ASEAN’s central role in promoting development in the Mekong sub-region. They reiterated their commitment to further promoting peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region through the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Friends of the Mekong (FOM) as well as other relevant Mekong-related mechanisms and initiatives.

21.The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international system as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law, considering this an important foundation for strengthening peace, security and prosperity. In particular, the two sides emphasized the obligation of all states to comply with international law and reaffirmed that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) serves as the "Constitution for the Oceans". The two sides expressed deep concern over recent developments in the East Sea, and called on all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, avoid actions that may increase tensions or erode trust, and resolve disputes by peaceful means, fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, refrain from the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.

22.The two sides pledged to cooperate closely and support each other at multilateral forums. They stressed the special importance of promoting and upholding the rules-based international system as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and International Law, based on the principle of respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, as stipulated in the United Nations Charter./.