This was shared by Nguyen Lam Giang, Head of Southeast Asia and East Asia External Relations at the University of Waikato and Co-Chair of the Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand, with Nhan Dan reporter on the occasion of General Secretary and President To Lam's State Visit to New Zealand from August 12-14, at the invitation of New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro.

Fresh momentum for Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation in education, training and joint research

Nguyen Lam Giang, Head of Southeast Asia and East Asia External Relations at the University of Waikato and Co-Chair of the Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

Nguyen Lam Giang expects General Secretary and President To Lam's State visit to New Zealand to provide fresh momentum for Vietnam and New Zealand to expand cooperation programs in education, training partnerships, joint research and innovation, while creating more opportunities for the Vietnamese community in New Zealand to participate more deeply in connecting and promoting bilateral relations.

From the perspective of a Vietnamese national working in education in New Zealand, Nguyen Lam Giang believes this is a highly favorable time to turn the two countries' cooperation potential into concrete programs, projects and results, thereby contributing to the development of Vietnam's high-quality human resources while further deepening friendship and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

According to Nguyen Lam Giang, General Secretary and President To Lam's meeting with the Vietnamese community in New Zealand during the State Visit is of profound importance to them.

In particular, the meeting comes shortly after the Politburo issued Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on August 2, 2026, on work concerning Vietnamese people overseas, giving the occasion even greater significance as a concrete continuation between policy orientations, policies and the everyday lives of the Vietnamese community.

“For Vietnamese people living, studying and working far from home, having the opportunity to meet and share directly with the highest leaders of the Party and State is a great source of encouragement. More importantly, it demonstrates the Party and State's attention to, willingness to listen to and support for Vietnamese people overseas, affirming that wherever they live, overseas Vietnamese remain an inseparable part of the Vietnamese national community,” Nguyen Lam Giang emphasized.

Nguyen Lam Giang said she particularly places high expectations on the spirit of Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW, under which Vietnamese people overseas are not only viewed as subjects of policy but are increasingly expected to be brought into play as an important national resource, particularly in terms of knowledge, science and technology, and management experience.

For the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, this represents a major source of motivation. There are many Vietnamese scientists, lecturers, experts, entrepreneurs and people with practical experience living there. If appropriate mechanisms are established to connect and harness these resources, Nguyen Lam Giang believes the Vietnamese community can make even more practical contributions to national development.

According to Nguyen Lam Giang, Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on work concerning Vietnamese people overseas provides an important policy foundation and source of confidence, enabling Vietnamese people overseas to integrate successfully into their host societies while maintaining their identity, remaining connected with their homeland and better fulfilling their role as a bridge between Vietnam and the world.

Nguyen Lam Giang (second from left) takes a photo with Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang and delegates attending the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic relations. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

In particular, as Vietnam and New Zealand have upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Vietnamese community in New Zealand can become an effective bridge, helping translate commitments at the government level into concrete cooperation in education, research, the economy, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.

Important bridge for knowledge and human resources, helping deepen Vietnam-New Zealand relations

As Co-Chair of the Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand, Nguyen Lam Giang said the organization was established in July 2026 to connect and harness the intellectual resources of the Vietnamese community, strengthen community ties, promote people-to-people cooperation as well as cooperation between the two countries, and make positive contributions to the development of both Vietnam and New Zealand.

Nguyen Lam Giang said the establishment of the Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand (VKNZ) is a highly practical and timely initiative, particularly as Vietnam is placing increasing importance on knowledge, science and technology, and high-quality human resources in its development process.

The Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand serves as a platform to connect and harness the intellectual resources of Vietnamese people in New Zealand. The network not only seeks to bring together scientists, scholars, lecturers, experts and entrepreneurs, but also aims to build broader connections with Vietnamese people studying and working in New Zealand and those with practical experience there. Through these connections, the network can serve as a channel for sharing knowledge and New Zealand's experience with Vietnam, while also bringing Vietnam's practical needs and challenges to the Vietnamese expert community in New Zealand.

New Zealand has a reputable higher education, research and innovation system, while Vietnam has significant demand for human resource development, digital transformation, science and technology, innovation and enhanced research capacity.

Nguyen Lam Giang (second from left) takes a photo with Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang and delegates attending the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic relations. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

“The Vietnamese intellectual community in New Zealand holds a very special position because we understand Vietnam while also having experience and networks in New Zealand. This is precisely the advantage that enables us to serve as a bridge for promoting joint research programs, academic exchanges, training partnerships, knowledge transfer and cooperation among universities, research institutes and businesses of the two countries,” Nguyen Lam Giang emphasized.

Nguyen Lam Giang believes the establishment and operation of the Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand will help connect younger generations, particularly Vietnamese students and young researchers in New Zealand, with senior experts, scholars and entrepreneurs, thereby creating a long-term intergenerational ecosystem.

From a broader perspective, Nguyen Lam Giang said the establishment of the Vietnam Knowledge Network in New Zealand is a concrete step toward realizing the spirit of Politburo Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on work concerning Vietnamese people overseas, turning the intellectual resources of the Vietnamese community overseas into concrete connections, initiatives and projects for the homeland.

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