Vietnam – New Zealand upgrade relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
On February 26, Prime Ministers Pham Minh Chinh and Christopher Luxon agreed to elevate Vietnam-New Zealand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking the celebration of 50 years of diplomacy.
Official visit to Vietnam from February 25 to 28 of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
At the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid an official visit to Vietnam from February 25 to 28 and attended the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum. This visit marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (June 19, 1975 – June 19, 2025) and the 5th anniversary of the strategic partnership (2020 – 2025). Additionally, 2025 has become a new milestone as the two countries agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Photo: Giang Huy
Strengthening the five main pillars of cooperation in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The two leaders emphasized that the two countries will focus on strengthening the five main pillars of cooperation in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including: (1) politics; (2) defense, security, and maritime cooperation; (3) economy, trade, and investment; (4) climate change response, science, and technology; (5) education and people-to-people exchanges.
- (1) The two sides agreed to deepen political and diplomatic relations, enhance delegation exchanges and high-level contacts, maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and effectively implement signed documents.
- (2) Vietnam and New Zealand continue to enhance substantial defense and security cooperation, expanding collaboration in the defense industry, military trade, combating transnational crime, maritime security, and cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
- (3) The two Prime Ministers emphasized the need for closer economic ties and more effective trade and investment cooperation; the two sides agreed to early develop a strategy to connect the two economies, promote the signing of economic, trade and investment cooperation agreements, facilitate market opening for each other’s agricultural products, and aim to diversify the supply chain, striving to reach the bilateral trade turnover target of 3 billion USD by 2026 and double two-way investment. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed businesses from both sides to strengthen connections, affirming that he would create a favorable investment environment for New Zealand businesses to invest and do business in Vietnam, especially high-quality projects with modern technology.
- (4) The two sides agreed to create further breakthroughs in cooperation in science and technology, digital transformation, green transformation, agriculture, and climate change response. New Zealand pledged to continue providing financial, technological, and knowledge support to Vietnam to implement international commitments on climate, implement energy transition and develop renewable energy, and increase support for Vietnam in developing sustainable agriculture and adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta region.
- (5) The two sides agreed to promote people-to-people exchanges and greater ties through cooperation in education and training, human resource development, labor, and tourism. The two sides also encouraged airlines of the two countries to open direct flights, encouraged localities to proactively establish friendly relations, and strengthened connections between major universities.
Photo: Giang Huy
As of February, Vietnam is New Zealand’s 12th largest trading partner. Conversely, the country ranks as Vietnam’s 41st largest trading partner. The bilateral trade volume in 2023 and 2024 reached $1.3 billion, representing an increase of approximately 5.7% compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam has 12 investment projects in New Zealand with a total registered capital of $43.9 million, ranking 30th out of 80 countries and territories where Vietnam has invested abroad.
New Zealand has 55 investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of $208 million, ranking 39th out of 149 countries and territories with direct investment in Vietnam. These projects primarily focus on real estate, education and training, manufacturing and processing industries, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, support services, and construction. New Zealand is also a partner that provides Vietnam with a stable and gradually increasing source of ODA each year. The country has implemented many significant developments aid projects, notably those supporting Vietnam in enhancing the quality of avocados, dragon fruits, and passion fruits, as well as dam and dyke safety projects in the central provinces.
Source: Various sources
Read more about Vietnam’s FDI attraction in January 2025 here.
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