VNA reported that on the afternoon of February 26, 2025, at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presided over a welcoming ceremony for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on an official visit to Vietnam and to attend the second ASEAN Future Forum from February 25-28, 2025.
This is Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's first official visit to Vietnam since his appointment as Prime Minister; taking place at the time the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 - June 19, 2025), the relationship between the two countries continues to develop positively and effectively.
The visit contributes to strengthening political trust, deepening the Strategic Partnership, and bringing the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and New Zealand into more substantial and effective situations.
In a sincere and warm atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh happily welcomed New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The New Zealand Prime Minister received a bouquet of fresh flowers from students in Hanoi.
The two Prime Ministers walked the red carpet while the students waved the flags of New Zealand and Vietnam in their hands.
When the two leaders stepped onto the podium of honor, under the national flags of the two countries, the national anthems of New Zealand and Vietnam were sung. In a solemn atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon walked together to welcome the national flags of the two countries.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh invited Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to re-appoint the Honor Guard of the Vietnam People's Army. The two Prime Ministers introduced to each other members of the high-ranking delegations of the two countries attending the welcoming ceremony; witnessed the welcoming parade of the Honor Guard of the Vietnam People's Army.
After the welcoming ceremony, the two Prime Ministers traveled to the Government Headquarters to hold talks. Before the talks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited a photo exhibition about the country, people and good relations between Vietnam and New Zealand organized by the Government Office in coordination with VNA.
The official visit to Vietnam by the Prime Minister of New Zealand is an opportunity for both sides to review and promote cooperation in all fields, especially in areas where one side has needs, the other side has strengths such as green economy, digital transformation, digital economy, knowledge economy, circular economy, energy transformation, agriculture, climate change adaptation, education, labor, cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange, etc.
In particular, the two sides considered upgrading the Vietnam - New Zealand relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
