General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh’s visit to New Zealand later this week is very significant, said New Zealand 's Prime Minister John Key in a press release on Sept. 7.

The New Zealand PM highly appreciated Vietnam ’s economic achievements, saying " Viet Nam is one of the most impressive economic performers in South East Asia and it has staved off the effects of the global downturn better than most.”

“ Vietnam ’s GDP growth figures over the past decade have been stellar and it is becoming an increasingly important trading partner for New Zealand ," he said.

PM John Key said New Zealand welcomes growing links between the two countries in a host of areas, including education, and science and technology, and sees bilateral relations offering great potential to both sides.

The Vietnamese Party leader will receive an official welcome in Wellington on Sept. 10. He and his entourage will hold policy talks with their counterpart later that day, according to the press release./.