Vietnam Pictorial

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Relations between Vietnam and New Zealand, Australia lifted to a new height

21/03/2018

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Hanoi on March 19, concluding his official visits to New Zealand and Australia where he also attended the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, at the invitation of his New Zealand and Australian counterparts Jacinda Andern and Malcolm Turnbull.

Vietnam – New Zealand: Comprehensive partnership

During his trip to New Zealand from March 12-14, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a series of activities in Auckland – the largest city of the country.

The Vietnamese leader was welcomed with the traditional Hongi greeting of local Maori people at the official welcome ceremony and all destinations that he visited.

The ceremony to welcome the Vietnamese leader was held at the Government House
in Auckland on March 13. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviews the honour guard at the ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The traditional Hongi greeting of local Maori people at the official welcome ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Andern during which the two leaders discussed orientations to deepen the bilateral comprehensive partnership. They agreed to step up measures to promote trade ties, towards lifting two-way trade to 1.7-2 billion US dollars by 2020. The two leaders also reached consensus on further fostering cooperation in other potential fields such education and labour, striving to increase the number of Vietnamese students in New Zealand by 30 percent in 2020.

The two sides issued a Joint Statement on advancing the Comprehensive Partnership toward the Strategic Partnership.

During this visit, the Vietnamese Prime Minister witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements; had a meeting with New Zealand’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Trevor Mallard and a phone talk with Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy.

He met with the Mayor of Auckland city and attended the Vietnam-New Zealand Business Forum. He also received representatives of several New Zealand groups and met with students of the Waikato University and the Auckland University of Technology, and the Vietnamese community in New Zealand.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit contributed to creating an impetus to strengthen the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and New Zealand in a practical manner, serving as a momentum to elevate bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership.

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern receives the Vietnamese leader and his spouse.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The two prime ministers hold talks. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The leader of Vietnam also had a meeting with Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff on March 12.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Prime Minister visited the Auckland University of Technology on March 12. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

He attended the Vietnam – New Zealand Business Forum in Auckland on March 13. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has a reception for Neil Quigley,
Chair of the Reserve Bank's Board of Directors. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

He had a phone talk with Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy on March 13. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese leader has a reception for Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology Derek McCormack.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has a meeting with Speaker of the New Zealand
House of Representatives Trevor Mallard. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese Prime Minister receives Adam Martin, President of the New Zealand Trade Centre in Auckland.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Two-way trade between Vietnam and New Zealand has steadily increased by an average 20 percent annually. Bilateral trade reached approximately 707 million US dollars in 2016 and around 907.5 million US dollars in 2017 and is set to hit 1.7-2 billion US dollars by 2020, making economic cooperation a pillar of the bilateral ties.

Vietnam – Australia: Establishing strategic partnership

During his official visit to Australia from March 14-18, where he also attended the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined up to 43 activities in Canberra and Sydney.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signed the Joint Statement on establishing the Vietnam – Australia Strategic Partnership.

The Vietnamese leader held talks with Prime Minister Turnbull; and met with Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove, President of the Senate Scott Ryan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith.

At the invitation of his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc,
his spouse and a Vietnamese high-ranking delegation paid an official visit and attended
the ASEAN – Australia Special Sunmmit from March 14-18. The welcoming ceremony was held in Canberra
on March 15. In the photo: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull receives his Vietnamese counterpart.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese Prime Ministers reviews the honour guard at the ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The two Prime Ministers and their spouses. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

He had meetings with lecturers and students of the Australian National University, and representatives from the Australia-Vietnam Friendship Association, Vietnamese outstanding entrepreneurs and expats in Australia; and visited the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull agreed to create the best conditions for enhanced economic cooperation between the two countries in a comprehensive and intensive manner through fully tapping the great potential of the two economies. They highlighted the increasing cooperation between the two countries’ people through education and tourism collaboration, and culture exchanges.

They also emphasised the importance to ensure peace, stability, security and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea, as well as the strict enforcement of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), in resolving disputes at sea; and supported the early conclusion of an effective and legally-binding Code of Conduct (COC).

The two leaders hold talks. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The two Prime Ministers sign the Joint Statement on establishing the Vietnam – Australia Strategic Partnership.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

They also witness the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese leader met with Australian President of the Senate Scott Ryan
and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith in Canberra on March 15.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese Prime Minister paid a courtesy visit to Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove on March 15.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates visited the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) on March 15. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove takes the Vietnamese Prime Minister and his delegation
to the Kangaroo Zoo. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove
attend a ceremony celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties.
In the photo: The Vietnamese leader addresses the ceremony Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian
in Sydney on March 16. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese leader met with Governor of New South Wales David Hurley and his wife in Sydney on March 16.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the Vietnam- Australia Business Forum
in Sydney on March 16. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The leader witnesses the launch of Vietjet’s direct flight from Vietnam to Australia. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove co-chaired a banquet celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties.

In Sydney – the capital city of New South Wales and the biggest financial and trade centre of Australia, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the Vietnam–Australia Business Forum, which was participated by over 400 entrepreneurs and investors of the two countries. He met and had dialogues with representatives from leading Australian enterprises. He also witnessed the exchange of 18 cooperation agreements between the two countries and attended the opening ceremony of the Voice of Vietnam’s Representative Office in Australia.

At the Vietnam – Australia Business Forum, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said 2017 two-way trade reached about 6.5 billion US dollars in 2017, up 22 percent from 2016 with virtually no deficit, but still had room for development.

Australian investors have put around 2 billion US dollars in 400 projects on processing, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishery, education and health services in Vietnam. Vietnam is also a favourite destination for Australian tourists the number of whom reached 400,000 in 2017.

ASEAN - Australia: Flourishing relationship

On March 18, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended major events within the framework of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney.

Themed “Enhancing Regional Security and Prosperity”, the event is an important platform for ASEAN and Australian leaders to discuss orientations to enhance the strategic partnership between the two sides set up in 2014.

Opening the session, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull underlined the significant role of the ASEAN – Australia strategic partnership for the regional security and prosperity.

In his speech at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc pointed out important orientations for the ASEAN-Australia strategic partnership, focusing on priorities of boosting economic cooperation and ensuring peace, and security in the region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received President of the Vietnamese Business Association
in Australia Tran Ba Phuc on March 17. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

He also had a meeting with Prof. Nguyen Van Anh, representative of Vietnamese scientists in Queensland on March 17.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese leader attended a banquet of the New Colombo Scholarship Programme
in Sydney on March 17. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit
in Sydney on March 17. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Vietnamese leader took part in the plenary session of the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit
on March 18. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

In a retreat between leaders of ASEAN and Australia within the framework of the summit, the Vietnamese leader urged ASEAN and Australia to intensify cooperation and mutual trust for the interests of each side, as well as for cooperation and stability in the region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, together with leaders of the ASEAN member nations and Australian Prime Minister Turnbull, had a meeting with former Australian students who had participated in the New Colombo Scholarship Programme in Southeast Asia nations, and witnessed the signing of an ASEAN-Australia Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fight against international terrorism.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Vietnamese leader had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, and Myanmar State Counsellor.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Australia and his attendance in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit officially lifted the Vietnam-Australia relationship to a new height, and contributed to promoting cooperation and connectivity between ASEAN and Australia in the coming time.

By VNA/VNP