Vietnam and New Zealand will make active efforts to expand bilateral cooperative ties, especially in trade and investment, in the coming time.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key made the statement in a banquet he hosted in Hanoi on July 11 to mark the 35 th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (June 19).

Vietnamese Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai, officials from several ministries and branches and representatives from businesses of the two countries were present at the banquet.

The New Zealand PM, who is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam, stressed that the 35 th anniversary is a chance for both countries to review achievements the bilateral cooperation has brought about.

On behalf of the Vietnamese government and people, Hai said he was happy to see the two countries’ cooperative and friendly ties ceaselessly developing over the past 35 years and the ties have been raised to a new height.

The upcoming signing of an Action Plan will be legal foundation for the two countries to implement the comprehensive partnership established during Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s trip to New Zealand last September, said Hai while speaking highly of increasing Official Development Assistance (ODA) New Zealand has provided for Vietnam.

On the same day, Key paid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Memorial of War Martyrs./.