Immediately after arriving in Auckland city, starting activities within the framework of the State visit to New Zealand, in the evening of August 12 (local time), General Secretary and President To Lam received Mr. Steven Joyce - Acting Chairman of the New Zealand - Vietnam Friendship Association and some typical members of the association.
At the reception, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his pleasure to meet Mr. Steven Joyce and typical members of the New Zealand - Vietnam Friendship Association; said that the meeting right in the first activity in New Zealand showed the warm feelings, closeness and attachment between the people of the two countries.
General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated and acknowledged the positive contributions, dedication, and enthusiasm of the leaders and members of the Association in promoting Vietnam - New Zealand relations in the past time, especially in the fields of education, economy, agriculture, science and technology.
The Association's activities not only contribute to spreading friendship between the two countries to the people of New Zealand and the New Zealand community of Vietnamese origin, but also contribute to consolidating a solid social foundation for bilateral relations.
General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam - New Zealand relations have made strong, comprehensive and increasingly in-depth developments.
In particular, the two countries' upgrade of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025 has opened a new stage of development, creating momentum to promote cooperation in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, defense, security, economy, culture, education, science - technology and people-to-people exchanges.
General Secretary and President To Lam said that Vietnam is planning to establish the Vietnam - New Zealand Friendship Association, acting as a partner with the New Zealand - Vietnam Friendship Association, thereby strengthening connections, exchanges and contributing to making the friendly relations between the people of the two countries increasingly deeper and more substantive.
Assessing the great potential for cooperation between the two countries, General Secretary and President To Lam wished the Association to continue to promote its role as a bridge, making positive contributions to promoting relations between the two countries; continue to consider education and training as a focus of cooperation, and at the same time promote cooperation in the fields of science and technology, climate change response, economy, green agriculture and clean agriculture.
General Secretary and President To Lam also hoped that the Association would continue to pay attention to and support the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, creating favorable conditions for people to stabilize their lives, work, integrate well, and make positive contributions to the locality and homeland.
Mr. Steven Joyce warmly welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam on a state visit to New Zealand; introduced some outstanding activities of the association in promoting people-to-people exchanges, educational cooperation, tourism and connecting Vietnamese students studying in New Zealand.
Expressing his emotion at the concern and recognition of General Secretary and President To Lam for the Association's contributions, Mr. Steven Joyce affirmed that he personally and the New Zealand - Vietnam Friendship Association are ready to continue to support the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, promote the role of bridge and make more practical contributions to strengthening friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.
