Vietnam and New Zealand have set to strive for 1 billion USD in two-way trade by 2015, recognising new developments in their economic, trade and investment cooperation in recent time.

The agreement came from the talks in Hanoi on September 17 between Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bill English, who is on a working visit to Vietnam from September 16-17.

Both sides were delighted that political, security and defence cooperation between the two countries has been closer in a trust-based manner over the past time.

Towards the set goal, the two sides will coordinate to efficiently implement high-level agreements and focus on carrying out the 2013-2016 Action Plan as well as the Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance signed in August, 2013.

Besides, the exchange of high-ranking visits will be boosted and cooperation in national defence, security, agriculture, milk production and processing, beverage, processing industry, energy, wood processing, mining, law, education-training, tourism, labour and people-to-people exchange will also be sped up to meet the current growing political ties.

Both leaders affirmed to work closely in organising activities to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Deputy PM Ninh underscored Vietnam’s policy of treasuring cooperation with the South Pacific nations, including New Zealand.

He thanked the New Zealand Government for its annual provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam while confirming support to New Zealand’s implementation of the “NZ Inc ASEAN strategy” announced by Prime Minister John Key in July, 2013.

Vietnam will actively work with New Zealand and relevant countries to soon accomplish negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Ninh said.

Bill English, for his part, hailed Vietnam as one of New Zealand’s important partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asian-Pacific region as well.

He also pledged the continued provision of ODA for Vietnam at a stable level while showing his satisfaction with the efficient deployment of New Zealand-funded development projects in the country.

Touching on regional and global issues of mutual interest, both sides pledged to work closely together at the United Nations and regional forums, especially the East Asia Summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Asia-Europe Meeting, and on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The guest also took the occasion to invite Deputy PM Ninh to visit his country at a convenient time.

During his visit, the NZ leader paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and held working sessions with Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung and Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Van Binh.-VNA