The two shared the view that cooperative relations between New Zealand and Vietnam have developed well in all areas, from politics to economics, trade, investment, development aid, culture, education and training.

Mr Manh thanked the NZ government and its people for providing effective assistance to Vietnam’s development and construction process, especially in education, training and direct development aid. He also thanked New Zealand for recognizing Vietnam’s economic market status and beginning to receive skilled Vietnamese workers.

Both host and guest agreed to make a greater effort to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

They said the two countries should maintain the exchange of visits at all levels and improve existing mechanisms such as the annual sessions of the Joint Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation, political consultations between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and dialogues on national defence, as well as between other organisations.

They agreed to increase trade and cooperation in construction, mining, light and processing industries, and financial and banking services. They pledged to create the best possible conditions for their businesses and investors and speed up implementation of cooperation projects under the recently signed ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).

PM Key pledged to maintain NZ development aid to Vietnam in the coming years, assist the country through the poverty reduction support credit (PRSC), maintain current education and training cooperation programmes and increase scholarships to Vietnamese students.

The two leaders were confident that Vietnam and New Zealand will soon sign cooperation agreements for science-technology, customs and police and a double tax avoidance agreement plan.

They showed their interest in accelerating trade liberalisation within a multilateral trade framework, countering protectionism, and completing the Doha round of talks.

While discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, they stressed the need to promote cooperation in such international forums as the United Nations, the East-Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN-New Zealand relations when Vietnam takes over the chair of ASEAN in 2010.

PM Key assured Mr Manh that New Zealand will grant preferences to Vietnam during the latter’s negotiations to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP). He also reaffirmed his country’s desire to cooperate with Vietnam within this framework.

Mr Manh said Vietnam supports New Zealand’s bid to join in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asian integration, especially in ASEAN and EAS forums.        

The two leaders also said Vietnam and New Zealand will work closely in international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation to facilitate global trade liberalisation, and the United Nations to promote peace, security and development.

PM Key praised Vietnam’s active contributions to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the 2008-09 term.

Mr Manh said Vietnam acknowledges NZ’s proposal to support its bid to become a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2015-16 term. He invited Mr Key to visit Vietnam at a convenient time and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

After the talks, the two released a joint statement unveiling the new Vietnam-New Zealand comprehensive partnership.

PM Key hosted a banquet in honour of Mr Manh and his entourage, affirming at the function that New Zealand attaches great importance to fostering multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

Party leader Manh began an official visit on September 9 to New Zealand at the invitation of PM Key.