Vietnam and one of its ODA donors, New Zealand, have agreed to promote their comprehensive partnership in various fields, including politics, trade, investment, defense, education, labor and agriculture. The agreement was made at the ninth political consultation between the two countries in Wellington on July 11 under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and New Zealand Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Andrea Smith.

The two sides highly valued the fine development of their bilateral comprehensive partnership over the past years, including the two-way trade that rises each year, hitting nearly US$600 million in 2012. New Zealand is now developing 18 projects with a total investment of over US$76.3 million in Vietnam. New Zealand’s ODA to Vietnam has increased steadily over time, amounting to 10.5 million NZD in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. FM Vinh and his guest also reached a consensus on devising the 2013-2016 Action Program and preparations for the upcoming high-level visits of the two countries’ leaders.

The two officials also vowed to enhance Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation at global and regional forums like the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the United Nations.

In respect of the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed that any disputes should be settled peacefully in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in order to maintain peace, stability, maritime security and safety in the sea area. They also emphasized that a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) should be built and approved by all related parties soon.