Exciting events mark Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic ties

Deputy PM, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (R) received New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully,in March 2014 (Photo: VNA)

The "New Zealand – Open to the New" programme was introduced to the public during a press conference in Hanoi on February 5 with a string of events to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and New Zealand.

The event aims to introduce New Zealand to Vietnamese nationals through cuisine and wine festivals; education and culture exhibitions to be held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and central Da Nang city; and highlighting fashion cooperation projects and a "New Zealand – new horizon" contest, among others.

At the press conference, New Zealand Ambassador Haike Manning said the celebration of bilateral diplomatic relations creates an opportunity for the two countries to expand their cooperation in politics, tourism, education, trade and investment.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung highlighted outstanding achievements in bilateral coordination efforts, especially in trade, education-training, and agriculture.

There remains significant potential for increasing their multi-faceted partnership, Trung said, citing bright prospects from the multilateral and regional cooperation frameworks that the two countries are involved in, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreements; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum; and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Vietnam hopes that New Zealand will become a more substantial partner, exchanging experience and cooperation in economics, trade, education and agriculture for mutual benefit in development and prosperity, he added.

Vietnam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in June 1975.-VNA

Source: http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Exciting-events-mark-VietnamNew-Zealand-diplomatic-ties/20152/61346.vnplus