Vietnam Bilateral Linkages

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Carol Douglas
5:18am Friday 10 February

Vietnam Bilateral Linkages

Diplomatic relations with the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam were established in 1975, but were subsequently fairly inactive for almost a decade following Viet Nam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia in 1978.  In 1995 New Zealand opened an Embassy in Ha Noi, and Trade New Zealand (now New Zealand Trade and Enterprise) established a commercial office (and Consulate General) in Ho Chi Minh City.

In recent years official and business contacts have grown significantly, assisted by rapid economic growth in Viet Nam and its deepening integration into the region.  Relations have also been bolstered significantly by the considerable number of senior officials who have studied English in New Zealand or visited on study tours.  The visit by Prime Minister Helen Clark to Viet Nam in October 2003 consolidated these links and moved the Viet Nam-New Zealand relationship on to a higher plane.

2005 marked the anniversary of 30 years of New Zealand/Viet Nam diplomatic relations.  A highlight that year was the visit of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to New Zealand in May 2005.  Consistent with expanding official and people-to-people links, the two Prime Ministers signed a Joint Declaration of Cooperation, which established a framework for strengthening bilateral relations in the coming years both to a level similar to that which New Zealand has with longstanding ASEAN partners.  2005 culminated with a very successful State visit by the New Zealand Governor-General to Viet Nam in November 2005, which added considerable depth and momentum to the bilateral relationship. The Vice President of Viet Nam, Madam Hoa, visited New Zealand in October 2006, followed by an extremely successful and productive visit by the President of Viet Nam in September 2007.

In addition to these bilateral linkages, Ministers and officials of the two countries meet regularly in multilateral and regional fora, such as the United Nations and its specialised agencies, APEC, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, with which New Zealand has dialogue partner status. A New Zealand/Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group, designed to forge greater links and understanding between our two parliaments was established in July 2007.

Visits

To Vietnam

  • New Zealand's Minister of Education/Ethnic Affairs visited Viet Nam in March 2008
  • Prime Minister visited Viet Nam in November 2006 for the APEC Leaders Meeting.
  • Hon Trevor Mallard led an education delegation to Viet Nam in May 2004
  • Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited in July 2004.
  • Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Trade, made a visit to Ho Chi Minh City in June 2006, combining Viet Nam-hosted APEC meetings with bilateral meetings.
  • Prime Minister RtHon Helen Clark visited Viet Nam in October 2003.
  • The year of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam, 2005, culminated in a State visit to Viet Nam by the New Zealand Governor General, HE Dame Silvia Cartwright.
  • and New Zealand's Minister of Veterans' Affairs/Civil Defence made an official visit to Ha Noi in February 2008.
  • Prime Minister Rt Hon JimBolger in 1995.
  • Deputy Prime Minister DonMcKinnon visited Viet Nam in July 1994.

To New Zealand

  • The Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Education and Training, Nguyen Thien Nhan, visited New Zealand in February 2008
  • Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien visited in February 2004
  • Prime Minister Phan Van Khai led a delegation of over 100officials and business people to New Zealand in May 2005 to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam.
  • In May2003 Viet Nam's Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Binh officially opened the Embassy of Viet Nam in Wellington.
  • Members of VietNam's National Assembly, led by Chairman Nguyen Van An, visited NewZealand in July 2004. Since then, several Vietnamese Parliamentary and other delegations have visited New Zealand to study topics such as governance and the role of the Ombudsman, defence and security, science and technology, education, economic policy and indigenous peoples' policies.
  • In October 2006, Vice President Madame Truong My Hoa, and a delegation of 22 officials and business people, visited New Zealand.
  • In September 2007, the President of Viet Nam, HE Mr Nguyen Minh Triet, visited New Zealand following his attendance at the APEC Summit in Sydney.
  • Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Khiet - May 1993
  • Communist Party General Secretary Do Muoi - July 1995

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Last updated: 04 December 2008