Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the suggestion at a meeting with Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber on March 9 as part of his ongoing official visit to New Zealand.

Chinh said bilateral relations have developed positively since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975. The two countries established their strategic partnership in 2020 and are looking to upgrade their ties to a higher level.

The two sides have joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

This is an important foundation for businesses of the two countries to promote investment cooperation, stressed the PM.

According to the PM, Vietnam is embarking on energy transition and it has great potential for developing wind and solar power, along with developing many urban areas and industrial park infrastructure. It also has a demand for importing some types of agricultural and aquatic products from New Zealand, as well as a desire to export its fruits and agricultural products that New Zealand needs.

In his opinions, the two sides should resume direct flights disrupted since the COVID-19 outbreak, noting demand for travel and goods transportation between the two countries is increasing after the containment of the pandemic.

He pointed to the fact that Vietnam has 11,000 nationals working, living, and studying in New Zealand and Vietnamese people also love traveling to New Zealand.

The resumption of direct flights between the two countries has a great opportunity, he said.

Bridges for his part said New Zealand businesses have followed with keen interest Vietnam’s remarkable development over the past 20 years. He said there are many opportunities to invest and do business in Vietnam and many New Zealand businesses have operated successfully in the country.

He appreciated Vietnam’s business climate as well as its investment potential, adding New Zealand businesses are working actively with relevant Vietnamese ministries, agencies and businesses to outline specific cooperation projects.

He proposed that the Government of Vietnam continue to create conditions for New Zealand businesses to invest in the country, especially in fields such as renewable energy, real estate, aviation, fruit and vegetable import and export.

VOV