State President Nguyen Minh Triet on Sept. 4 received the newly accredited ambassadors from New Zealand and Norway , following the presentation of their credentials.

During his reception for New Zealand Ambassador Heather Mhairi Riddell, President Triet said Vietnam deeply values its cooperative ties with New Zealand and wishes to lift this relationship to a higher level.

The two countries have successfully formed a cooperation framework and increased the exchange of visits at all levels, while two-way trade has seen steady growth, he said.

The State leader stressed that the upcoming official visit to New Zealand by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh would be of great significance and mark a new stage of development in the bilateral relations.

Sharing President Triet’s point of view, Riddell said he hoped that Party General Secretary Manh’s planned visit would help elevate the New Zealand-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive partnership.

The ambassador said New Zealand and Vietnam have many common goals which serve as a foundation for the two nations to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation as well as coordination at regional organisations.

He cited the ratification of the ASEAN- Australia -New Zealand Free Trade Agreement by both New Zealand and Vietnam , and Vietnam ’s consideration of the possibility of joining the trans-Pacific partnership.

Riddell expressed his wish that Vietnam would support New Zealand ’s bid to run for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2015-2016 term.

Talking with Norwegian Ambassador Stale Torstein Risa, President Triet said Vietnam wants to expand cooperation with Norway , on the basis of their current mutual understanding and trust.

Vietnam ’s Foreign Ministry is actively preparing for the re-opening of an embassy in the capital city of Oslo later this year, the President noted.

Torstein Risa affirmed that Norway desires to become a strong partner of Vietnam and further beef up cooperation in areas, which serve Vietnam ’s long-term development.

The diplomat said President Triet’s state-level visit to Norway in June 2008 created a momentum to promote the bilateral relationship, adding that the trip helped the Norwegian people and business community better understand Vietnam./.