Two ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy, frigate HMNZS Te Mana and sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa, arrived at the international port of Ho Chi Minh City on September 24, starting a five-day friendship visit to Vietnam.
Vietnamese and New Zealand officers at the welcome ceremony in HCM City on September 24 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Two ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy, frigate HMNZS TeMana and sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa, arrivedat the international port of Ho Chi Minh City on September 24, starting afive-day friendship visit to Vietnam.
Leading the New Zealand delegation, Commander of the Joint ForcesNew Zealand RearAdmiral James Gilmour said the visit follows a successful trip to hiscountry by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the GeneralStaff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, inJuly 2023.
It is a demonstration of the intensive cooperation between the two countriesand aims to help strengthen their defence relations as well as people-to-peopleties, he noted.
NewZealand pledges to boost defence cooperation with Vietnam on the basis ofrespect for international law and the rules on navigation freedom, he went on,adding that it believes the development and expansion of bilateral relationswill contribute to regional security.
Sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa of New Zealand at the international port of HCM City (Photo: VNA)
Over the past years, Vietnam and New Zealand have frequently shared information and promoted cooperation via the annual defence strategy and defence policy dialogues, along with within multilateral frameworks such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus.
During theirstay in HCM City, the officers and sailors of New Zealand will engage in a numberof activities, including meetings between the countries’ navies, sportsexchanges, and community activities.
They will also join the High Command of Vietnam’s Naval Region 2 in a sandtable exercise./.
Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand Vangelis Vitalis has expressed his belief in stronger trade ties between Vietnam and his country, saying that the two sides will expand their cooperation to other areas in the future.
The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) officially kicked off the “Made With Care” 2023 retail campaign on June 8, in which high-quality imported food and beverage (F&B) products will be offered in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to expand its strategic partnership with New Zealand, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins at a meeting on the sidelines of the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin, China on June 27.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on July 13 attended meetings between foreign ministers of ASEAN member states and their partners - New Zealand, India, Russia, Australia and China - within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
New Zealand’s Chief of the Defense Force Air Marshal Kevin Short on July 17 hosted a reception for Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, in Wellington.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
Vietnamese and New Zealand officers at the welcome ceremony in HCM City on September 24 (Photo: VNA) 
Sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa of New Zealand at the international port of HCM City (Photo: VNA) 
