Vietnam and New Zealand will deepen their cooperation in already existing fields while eyeing untapped others, President Nguyen Minh Triet told correspondents who accompanied him during his visit to the foreign country.
Triet and entourage came back Hanoi late Wednesday [September 12], wrapping up the three-day trip to the island country at the invitation of General Governor Anand Satyanand and Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Triet said he and New Zealand’s senior leaders agreed to step up the implementation of the statement on Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation issued in May 2005 in order to lay a firm foundation for the two countries' future partnership.
The visit to New Zealand this time also brightened the relations between the two sides in the education and training cooperation, Triet noted, adding that he was impressed with the foreign nation’s advanced education.
He said that during the meeting with the host PM Helen Clark September 11, New Zealand pledged to help Vietnam in training English language teachers and improving the teaching and use of English in schools.
On economic issues, the two leaders stressed the importance of the Vietnam-New Zealand Economic Joint Committee’s second meeting slated to be held in Hanoi next month in seeking ways to increase bilateral trade from US$214 million last year.
This is the first visit by a State top leader to New Zealand since the two sides set up the diplomatic ties in 1975, considered to actively contribute to bring the bilateral relationship to new height.
Triet also took the occasion to meet with representatives of the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese students in New Zealand, attended the Vietnam-New Zealand Business Forum, visited Victoria University and several New Zealand companies.
The two countries’ trade has increased in recent years; however, it remains modest, hitting US$198 million in 2006 and around US$100 million in this year’s first five months.
New Zealand currently has 13 investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of US$35 million, ranking 42nd among total 74 nations and territories investing in the country. (The People)
Vietnamese
