President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fifth from right) and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (sixth from right) pose for a group photo with other delegates. (Photo: VNA)

Welcoming the guest, President Phuc expressed his belief that the first Viet Nam visit by Ardern, taking place from November 14-17, will make an important contribution to promoting the Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

He congratulated New Zealand on its post-pandemic recovery, which he said helps affirm its role and position in the region and the world at large.

The President took the occasion to thank New Zealand for its vaccine and financial support as well as continued provision of non-refundable aid to Viet Nam, saying they have helped the country to recover after the pandemic.

Ardern expressed her joy at the strong development of bilateral ties, especially the upgrading of the relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2020. She affirmed that New Zealand always attaches importance to consolidating and developing relations with Viet Nam, a strategic partner of her country in ASEAN and the region.

Appreciating the outcomes of talks between Ardern and her Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, President Phuc suggested that the New Zealand PM pay attention to promoting cooperation between the two countries in the new situation, especially in the exchange of delegations and implementation of bilateral mechanisms.

The two sides should accelerate the implementation of the Action Plan to realise their strategic partnership for the 2021-2024 period; strengthen education-training cooperation, locality-to-locality connections and people-to-people exchanges, soon reopen seasonal direct flights, and support each other to improve the quality of agricultural products for export, he said.

Ardern affirmed that she will work closely with the Government and relevant agencies of Viet Nam to develop the two countries' Strategic Partnership in a deeper and more substantive and effective manner. She pledged to continue support for Viet Nam to improve the quality of some fruits for better access to international markets.

In addition to education, which is seen as the most important area in bilateral ties, the New Zealand PM agreed to promote cooperation in transportation, digital commerce and digital economy.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, Ardern emphasised that as a peace-loving country, New Zealand highly values the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via dialogue and peaceful measures in respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea./.