Viet Nam - New Zealand boost green transition and renewable energy

PM Le Minh Hung and NZ Ambassador Caroline Beresford met on July 30 to advance bilateral cooperation in green transition and renewable energy.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung expressed his pleasure at meeting Ambassador Caroline Beresford. He highly appreciated her active contributions since taking office in Viet Nam, particularly for successfully co-organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and to upgrade Viet Nam - New Zealand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, according to the Government News.

The Prime Minister highly valued the positive cooperation outcomes between the two countries, noting that the Action Program implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 2025-2030 period is being actively implemented by both sides across all five pillars.

Emphasizing the substantial potential for trade and investment cooperation, the PM suggested both sides adopt breakthrough measures to soon raise bilateral trade turnover to $3 billion. He called for removing technical barriers, facilitating access to each other's markets for each country's key agricultural and export products, and effectively leveraging the free trade agreements they are both part of.

The Prime Minister proposed boosting cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, the green transition, and the development of renewable energy (wind and solar power). He shared that Viet Nam currently views science, technology, and innovation as the primary drivers of its new development model to promote sustainable economic growth.

Expressing her honor at being received by the Prime Minister, Ambassador Caroline Beresford congratulated Viet Nam on its outstanding socio-economic development achievements in recent times. The Ambassador emphasized that New Zealand always considers Viet Nam an important partner in Southeast Asia and stands ready to accompany, support, and assist Viet Nam in achieving its development goals.

Ambassador Caroline Beresford affirmed her continued efforts to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries in a more practical and effective manner, especially in trade and investment, education and training, high-tech agriculture, and science and technology.

In line with PM Le Minh Hung's guiding orientations, Ambassador Caroline Beresford affirmed that she would continue to coordinate closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities to foster bilateral cooperation across all fields.

In particular, the Ambassador emphasized the thorough preparation for upcoming high-level delegation exchanges to create new momentum for trade and investment cooperation and to accompany Viet Nam in developing its green and digital economies.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, Ambassador Caroline Beresford agreed with the PM to continue strengthening close coordination at multilateral forums, emphasizing ASEAN's central role, and pledged New Zealand's continued support for Viet Nam in successfully hosting the APEC Year in 2027.

Hong Ngoc