NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hopes that following the establishment of the strategic partnership, the two countries will step up economic, trade, and investment ties. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Chairwoman of the NationalAssembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held online talks on July 29 with Speaker of theNew Zealand House of Representatives Travor Mallard.
Ngan thanked Mallard for inviting her to pay anofficial visit to NewZealand. The visit, however, has yet to bearranged due to COVID-19, she said, expressing a hope that it will happen soon.
The leaders recalled the online talks between the Vietnameseand New ZealandPrime Ministers a week ago, during which they agreed to advance the bilateralrelationship to a strategic partnership.
They shared the view that the elevation of the ties has opened anew chapter and created a new framework and new momentum for bilateral ties tomove forward.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Photo: VNA)
Ngan said she hopes that following the establishmentof the strategic partnership, the two countries will step up economic, trade,and investment ties.
She said the bilateral relationship has developedfruitfully over the years, with two-way trade expanding more than three-fold overthe last decade. Despite the impact of the pandemic, trade still reached 500million USD in the first half of this year, down only slightly year-on-year,and is expected to bounce back in the time to come.
The Vietnamese top legislator thanked New Zealand for its official developmentassistance (ODA) which has been used effectively in recent yearsand significantly contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.
The Vietnamese NA supports the two governments’ cooperation inimplementing regional economic cooperation mechanisms, she said, suggesting thatthe two partner with APEC members to organise this year’s APEC Summit in asuitable form and promote cooperation priorities.
Vietnam backs New Zealand’sonline organisation of APEC Year 2021, and the NA will closely coordinate withthe country next year, Ngan pledged.
She suggested New Zealand continue to help Vietnamimprove its capacity to enforce the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and enhance economic and trade collaboration,even amid COVID-19.
The leaders also emphasised the progress made incooperation in national defence and security, agriculture, education, tourism,and people-to-people exchanges.
The two countries have cooperated more effectively on regionaland international issues, especially at a time when Vietnam is serving as the ASEANChair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021,New Zealand is preparing to host APEC 2021, and both countries are members ofmany new-generation free trade agreements, such as the CPTPP and the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), they said.
Ngan affirmed the stance of ASEAN and Vietnam on settlingdisputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures in line with international lawand the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
Maintaining a peaceful and stable environment andensuring freedom of navigation and aviation are in the interests of and a responsibilityshared by all countries, she said, noting her hope that New Zealandwill continue to back the stance.
The Vietnamese legislature will continue to closelycoordinate with its NewZealand counterpart to materialise the jointstatement on the strategic partnership, under which the two sides committed toenhancing bilateral exchanges through legislative channels as well as cooperationat multilateral parliamentary forums, Ngan said.
She told the leader of the New Zealand parliament that the NA,as the AIPA Chair, will organise the 41st General Assembly of the ASEANInter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) in the form of a teleconference, fromSeptember 8-10.
Ngan suggested facilitating the exchange between parliamentarianfriendship groups in the two countries, intensifying delegation exchanges atdifferent levels, and signing a cooperation agreement between the twolegislative bodies in order to make legislative ties match the strategicpartnership.
The NA stands ready to coordinate with its New Zealandcounterpart to support the two governments in implementing cooperationagreements within the strategic partnership, in terms of policies and laws,Ngan said.
For his part, Mallard promised to create favourableconditions for the Vietnamese community in New Zealand to live and work.
NewZealand backs the stance onsettling East Sea disputes by peaceful measures and inline with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
The leaders agreed to continue holding online talks oncooperation outcomes in priority areas in early 2021./.
