New Zealand and Vietnam Strengthen Strategic Partnership with Five New Agreements

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President To Lam of Vietnam announced a series of new steps to advance the New Zealand‑Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during a state visit that marked the first time a Vietnamese president has visited New Zealand since 2007. The leaders agreed on five outcomes covering agricultural cooperation, market access, education, defence, and climate‑smart agriculture. The agricultural package will broaden two‑way market access, allowing New Zealand honey and deer products to enter Vietnam and Vietnamese cut flowers and foliage to enter New Zealand. It also expands support for climate‑smart agriculture, building on earlier work that has increased farmer profits and reduced rice emissions by 50 percent. The partnership will also deepen cooperation on peacekeeping, maritime security and transnational crime, and expand links in science and technology. Luxon said the visit was about “putting our partnership to work and delivering benefits for both countries,” and that the outcomes would open new opportunities for exporters, strengthen education and security links, and support farmers and health professionals. The agreements set a clear direction for the decade ahead, with both leaders committed to turning the new accords into tangible results for people in both nations.