Vietnam and New Zealand enhance cooperation with strategic pact

WELLINGTON – New Zealand and Vietnam signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement late on Feb 26, pledging to boost engagement in areas including defence and education, said the two countries in a statement.

The joint statement said Hanoi and Wellington will over the next year develop a joint plan of action focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of political engagement; defence, security and oceans; economics, trade and investment; climate change, science and technology; and education and people-to-people links.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signed the agreement during a visit to Vietnam to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“Strengthening our relationship with Vietnam is incredibly important to New Zealand’s economic future, with more opportunities for businesses at home to access this crucial market,” Mr Luxon said on Feb 27.

“Vietnam is the rising star of Asia and the opportunities to work together on common goals are enormous,” Mr Luxon said. REUTERS

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