(VOVWORLD) -Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested Vietnam and New Zealand continue to facilitate their specialty fruits, including banana and passion fruits from Vietnam, and kiwi and cherry from New Zealand, to enter each other’s markets.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament Gerry Brownlee (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA) |
He also proposed connecting navigation and aviation between the two countries, and stepping up cultural ties and people-to-people interactions.
Mr. Chinh made the call during Monday’s meeting in Wellington with Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, Gerry Brownlee. He also called on the two countries’ legislative bodies to continue bringing into play their roles in further strengthening the Vietnam-New Zealand Strategic Partnership.
Speaker Brownlee pledged to promote granting long-term visas for Vietnamese citizens, agreed to increase people-to-people exchanges and also cultural cooperation to help strengthen the friendship and bonds between the two peoples.
 The meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro. (Photo: VNA) |
The same day at a meeting with Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro, PM Chinh informed Ms. Kiro of the outcome of the talks with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon earlier the same day.
He added that ample room remains for both nations to foster their strategic partnership, for the sake of their people, and for peace, stability and development in the region.
Kiro also commended Vietnam for assuming an important role and position in the region, especially within ASEAN, affirming that today, New Zealand always considers Vietnam a crucial partner in Southeast Asia.
Host and guest agreed to strengthen and deepen their relationship across spheres, step up people-to-people exchanges, and weigh the resumption of direct flights.
The two sides concurred that maintaining their close coordination and mutual support at regional and global forums will benefit both nations.
On the same day, Prime Minister Chinh received the President of the New Zealand-Vietnam Friendship Association, Roberto Rabel, who is a professor of Victoria University of Wellington.