Acting President of New Zealand-Vietnam Friendship Association (NZVFA) Anand Satyanand (second from left) poses for a commemorative photo with NZVFA members. (Photo: VNA)

On the occasion of Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s official visit to New Zealand, Acting President of New Zealand-Vietnam Friendship Association (NZVFA) Anand Satyanand GNZM QSO KStJ said the visit comes at a particularly significant time, as bilateral relations have entered a new and more ambitious phase following their elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Oceania, Anand Satyanand stressed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership provides a stronger foundation for the two countries to advance cooperation. However, he noted that the success of the framework would depend not only on relations between the two governments but also, to a great extent, on people-to-people ties between the two countries.

According to Anand Satyanand, Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit is a strong source of encouragement for NZVFA, while also underscoring that people-to-people exchanges are an important component of the overall bilateral relationship. These connections are built through students, families, communities, professionals, businesses, cultural groups and friendships between people of the two countries.

The Acting President of NZVFA believes the visit could create further opportunities for Vietnam-New Zealand relations to become more visible and substantive in New Zealand. The association places particular emphasis on promoting mutual learning, cultural exchanges, professional connections, and stronger links between the Vietnamese community in New Zealand and local communities.

Anand Satyanand expressed hope that NZVFA could help translate goodwill into lasting friendship and practical cooperation.

Assessing cooperation potential after the two countries marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Anand Satyanand said there remained considerable room to bring the peoples of Vietnam and New Zealand closer together. Government-to-government agreements are important, he said, but personal relationships between people of the two countries are what give the partnership its real strength and meaning.

He identified education as perhaps the area offering the greatest opportunities. Vietnam has a young and ambitious population, while New Zealand has strengths in education and skills development. The two countries could do more through practical and vocational skills training, research cooperation, student exchanges and internship programmes.

Anand Satyanand also stressed the need to provide greater opportunities for young people to take on leadership roles. Through youth exchanges, volunteer activities, entrepreneurship and joint projects, the two countries could help build a generation that understands one another, becoming long-term friends and partners between Vietnam and New Zealand.

Culture and tourism are also important bridges. Anand Satyanand noted that both Vietnam and New Zealand have rich cultural traditions and deep connections with nature. Promoting further cultural exchanges and tourism initiatives would therefore allow people in both countries to discover and appreciate each other’s countries while creating new economic opportunities.

The Acting President of NZVFA particularly highlighted the role of the Vietnamese community in New Zealand as an important bridge between the two countries. By connecting families, students, professionals, businesses and community organisations on both sides, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership could become closer and more meaningful in the everyday lives of people in both countries.

According to him, the new chapter in Vietnam-New Zealand relations is not merely about formal agreements or government policies, but also about building lasting friendships and stronger connections between the peoples of the two countries. These ties will provide a strong and enduring foundation for the bilateral partnership in the future.

Regarding recommendations to further strengthen people-to-people exchanges, Anand Satyanand said the first priority should be to make connections between the peoples of the two countries more practical and regular. Friendship should not be expressed only at major events or formal occasions, but should become part of everyday life. To achieve this, the two sides should create more opportunities for regular interaction through cultural activities, community visits, student support, professional networks and people-to-people exchange programmes.

The second recommendation is to invest more in young people. Mentoring programmes and networks for students, young professionals and future leaders could help them build confidence, develop cross-cultural understanding and establish lasting relationships.

Educational institutions also have an important role to play. Schools and universities can serve as effective bridges between the two countries through language learning, joint research, student exchanges and stronger alumni connections. Such relationships can provide a foundation for long-term cooperation.

Anand Satyanand said local communities in New Zealand could make a substantive and lasting difference by helping Vietnamese students, visitors and families feel genuinely welcome. Small acts of hospitality and friendliness in everyday life can build trust and understanding that last a lifetime.

As a friendship association, Anand Satyanand said NZVFA hopes to help connect all these elements. The association does not replace official diplomacy, but complements and reinforces diplomacy from the societal level by building trust, friendship and mutual understanding. These factors give strategic agreements genuine meaning in the daily lives of people in both countries.

PM Christopher Luxon's Visit Strengthens Vietnam-New Zealand Relations If Vietnam-New Zealand relations were a piece of fabric, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit is expected to reinforce the threads and strengthen the fabric’s weave amid today's turbulent world.

More Opportunities for Vietnamese Community to Connect and Promote Vietnam-New Zealand Relations The State Visit to New Zealand by General Secretary and President To Lam is expected to provide fresh momentum for Vietnam and New Zealand to expand cooperation in education and training, joint research and innovation, while creating more opportunities for the Vietnamese community to play a deeper role in connecting and promoting bilateral relations.