PM of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern (front, second from right) visits a display of farm produce at the AgriConnectioNZ event in Hanoi on November 15. (Photo: VNA) In her remarks, she said agriculture is not only a crucialsector of the two economies but also part of the countries’ culturalidentities, noting that farmers are a key factor of the economy of New Zealand.
Describing New Zealand and Vietnam as destined partners inagriculture, the PM noted with the common commitment on free trade and theirreputation in food production and export, both countries are proud to beproviders of food for the whole world.
She also pointed out considerable challenges to the twocountries’ food systems and global food security, adding the demand forcooperation among food exporting countries is now more urgent than ever.
The strategic partnership between Vietnam and New Zealand,set up in 2020, is a solid foundation for them to confront these challenges andgain benefits together, Ardern went on.
The New Zealand leader noted that both countries owneffective food production systems, and this will continue a focal area of theircooperation.
She also highly valued bilateral cooperation in applying highfood safety standards, which are important to a sustainable global food system,as well as in improving the resilience and sustainability of farmers, ruralcommunities, and ethnic minority groups.
Concluding her speech, PM Ardernstressed that agricultural connectivity marks a historic milestone in theirfruitful and mutually beneficial relations, and that it’s now the time for the countriesto launch a partnership in agriculture for the next century.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan also said agriculturalcooperation is an important pillar in bilateral cooperation. Vietnamappreciates New Zealand’s attention to agriculture, which focuses on knowledge andtechnology transfer regarding the development of the farm produce market andhigh-quality crop varieties, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, dam safetyand reservoir operations, food safety, and reduction of greenhouse gasemissions in animal farming.
In 2021, their agro-forestry-fishery tradeapproximated 550 million USD, accounting for 41% of total bilateral trade.
He expressed his hope that enterprises of Vietnam and NewZealand will partner in developing high-tech agricultural value chains, andpromoting connectivity between the two countries as well as their connectivity with global markets.
Vietnam’s agricultural sector will create optimal conditionsfor New Zealand businesses to make investment and do business successfully,sustainably, and in the long term, the official affirmed.
Atthe event, PM Ardern, Minister Hoan, andMinister for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture of New ZealandDamien O'Connor witnessed the signing of a document on the implementation of aplan to export Vietnam’s lime and pomelo to New Zealand, along with amemorandum of understanding on cooperation prioritisation between the TH TrueMilk company of Vietnam and the Waikato milk company of New Zealand./.
VNA
