Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was officially welcomed in New Zealand on Tuesday morning, as part of his visit to the island country from March 11 to 14.

The welcome ceremony was organized for the Vietnamese head of government, his spouse, and a delegation of high-ranking officials at the Government House in Auckland City, commencing with the traditional ritual of Maori, the first ethnic group living in New Zealand.

PM Phuc was then greeted by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, before the two leaders sat down for a talk.

During their conversation, both sides expressed their delight at the development of their two countries’ diplomatic ties over the past 45 years.

PM Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation are welcomed with the traditional ritual of Maori people. Photo: Tuoi Tre

PM Ardern asserted that her home country always considers Vietnam an important partner in its bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese premier expressed his belief that the two nations will raise their relationship to a strategic partnership in the near future.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in education, economic matters, trade, food safety, and quality management.

PM Phuc and PM Jacinda Ardern at the ceremony. Photo: Tuoi Tre

On Monday, PM Phuc visited the Auckland University of Technology, where he was welcomed with the traditional Hongi greeting of local Maori people.

The school is one of New Zealand’s leading universities, which nearly 400 Vietnamese students are attending.

The premier then met with Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Viet Dung and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Auckland. 

He praised the Vietnamese embassy’s efforts to facilitate the two countries’ cooperation and support Vietnamese people in New Zealand.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is welcomed with the traditional Hongi greeting of local Maori people at the Auckland University of Technology on March 12, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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