Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung conducted a bilateral meeting with New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay in Auckland, during the activities of a high-ranking delegation accompanying the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam on his official visit to New Zealand.
During the meeting, Hung reiterated that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and New Zealand has been thriving, becoming more substantial and extensive. The nations have several shared values and uphold strong connections through both bilateral relations and regional multilateral structures.
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In light of challenges confronting the global and regional economies and persistent geopolitical uncertainties, the two ministers engaged in discussions about strategies to enhance bilateral economic and trade collaboration, guarantee the uninterrupted movement of essential goods and regional supply chains, and strive to meet the goal of 3 billion USD in bilateral trade shortly.
To enhance trade and progress toward the established goal, Hung urged New Zealand to collaborate effectively in speeding up market access for agricultural and food items, fostering reciprocal trade and investment, and motivating New Zealand companies to invest in Vietnam.
Both parties should enhance collaboration in digital transformation, digital commerce, and cross-border e-commerce, as well as link Vietnamese IT and software firms with the New Zealand market. They must keep coordinating closely and assisting each other in multilateral cooperation, while effectively utilizing free trade agreements to optimize benefits for the business sectors of both nations, he stated.
McClay praised and concurred with the proposals from Vietnam. Concerning market access for agricultural, aquatic, and seafood goods, he stated he would confer with pertinent New Zealand agencies to facilitate the progress.
Regarding multilateral cooperation, Hung requested that New Zealand assist Vietnam in successfully and effectively carrying out its responsibilities as the rotating Chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2026, providing tangible advantages to all members.
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He also conveyed his expectation that Vietnam would keep benefiting from New Zealand's experience-sharing and technical support as it prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2027.
Vietnam greatly appreciates New Zealand's role in fostering policy discussions, exchanging insights on measuring trade in environmental goods, and aiding APEC's green-growth efforts, Hung stated.
In reply, McClay promised New Zealand's backing for Vietnam during its CPTPP leadership and stated that his country is prepared to provide any experience and help Vietnam may require.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Hung extended an invitation to McClay to come to Vietnam and conveyed his desire to host him at the 11th CPTPP Commission meeting set to occur in Vietnam this November.
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Statistics indicate that two-way trade between Vietnam and New Zealand hit 845 million USD in the initial half of the year, an increase of 15 percent compared to the previous year. Vietnam's exports to New Zealand reached 400 million USD, an increase of 19 percent, while imports were at 445 million USD, rising by 11 percent.