Stuff reported on the General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

According to the VNA correspondent in Oceania, mentioning the State visit by General Secretary and President To Lam to New Zealand, many New Zealand’s media agencies and observers have shared a common assessment: Vietnam-New Zealand relations are entering a new opportunity of stronger growth, on the basis of growing political trust, rapidly expanding trade, and increasingly intertwined interests in education, agriculture, technology, investment, and regional cooperation.

The visit comes after the two countries upgraded the relationship to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025. According to the New Zealand Government, this is Vietnam’s highest-level relationship framework, reflecting strategic trust and a shared vision between the two countries.

Stuff news website reported that this is the first State visit by a Vietnamese Head of State to New Zealand in nearly two decades.

Stuff quoted Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as saying that Vietnam is becoming an increasingly important partner of New Zealand in the context that Vietnam’s economy continues to grow rapidly and two-way trade expands strongly.

According to official figures cited by New Zealand’s media, bilateral trade reached 3.41 billion NZD (around 2 billion USD) in the year to March 2026, representing a 72% increase in just five years.

Prime Minister Luxon stressed that the two countries need to continue building momentum in areas of strength such as food-agriculture, education, tourism, technology, aviation, and investment, affirming that closer ties with Vietnam directly contribute to New Zealand’s prosperity and security.

The analysis on Asia Media Centre. (Photo: VNA)

From a strategic perspective, an analysis on the Asia Media Centre website (Asia New Zealand Foundation) on August 9 said the visit by General Secretary and President To Lam “shines a spotlight on one of the fastest-growing relationships in New Zealand’s Asia portfolio.”

With a population of more than 100 million and impressive gross domestic product (GDP) growth, Vietnam has emerged as one of the region’s leading economic bright spots.

The Asia Media Centre assessed that the significance of the visit extends far beyond trade. As an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam offers New Zealand an important multilateral partner in its effort to diversify economic ties across the Indo-Pacific.

The upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the practical needs of both sides to broaden the scope of cooperation, from smart agriculture, education, and climate change response to the development of high-quality human resources.

Meanwhile, The Spinoff news website on August 12 published an in-depth analysis, viewing the visit as a strategic move by both countries to proactively diversify partnerships in an increasingly volatile world.

The analysis on The Spinoff. (Photo: VNA)

The Spinoff praised the achievements of Vietnam’s Doi Moi process, which transformed Vietnam into a dynamic middle-income economy within a single generation, while also highlighting its goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045.

The Spinoff also said Vietnam’s emphasis on science and technology as a core driver of growth aligns strongly with New Zealand’s strengths in research, education, and high-tech agriculture.

The Spinoff cited Prime Minister Luxon’s view that closer relations with Vietnam would support both New Zealand’s prosperity and security. The Spinoff also noted that Vietnam, with a market of more than 100 million people, an expanding middle class, and few trade barriers, is regarded by New Zealand as one of the markets with significant potential for export growth.

Besides media agencies, official assessments from the New Zealand Government towards the visit also reflected high expectations for the next stage of bilateral relations.

In a statement issued on August 6, Prime Minister Luxon affirmed that Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies and an increasingly important partner for New Zealand. He said he looked forward to welcoming General Secretary and President To Lam and discussing the “next phase” of relations between the two countries.

Overall, the extensive attention from New Zealand’s media reflects a clear shift in how Vietnam is viewed in the country’s foreign policy thinking. Rather than being seen mainly through traditional areas of cooperation such as aid or education, Vietnam is increasingly regarded in New Zealand as a comprehensive strategic partner and an important link in supply chains, technology, green investment, and multilateral governance.

Vietnam, New Zealand Leaders Witness Exchange of Cooperation Documents Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Vietnam–New Zealand relations have continued to grow strongly, with substantive cooperation in numerous areas and further expansion in education and agriculture, generating fresh momentum for bilateral ties.

Top Vietnamese Leader Meets Acting President of New Zealand–Vietnam Friendship Association Vietnam plans to establish a Vietnam–New Zealand Friendship Association as a counterpart to the New Zealand–Vietnam Friendship Association, thereby strengthening connections and exchanges and helping deepen and broaden friendship between the two peoples.