Vietnam News Today (Jun. 18): Vietnam, New Zealand Ties Entering Strongest Phase

	Vietnam News Today (Jun. 16): Vietnam–Cambodia Art Exchange Promotes Cultural Ties
	Vietnam News Today (Jun. 17): Ties Between Vietnamese and Australian Localities Highlighted in ASEAN Meeting

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, New Zealand ties entering strongest phase: diplomat

Vietnam–New Zealand relations are entering their most dynamic phase to date, with both countries now among each other’s leading strategic partners in the region, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang.

In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and New Zealand (June 19, 1975 – 2025), Ambassador Giang noted that over the past half-century, the bilateral relationship has been steadily nurtured and strengthened, achieving remarkable progress and significant milestones.

The two nations established a Comprehensive Partnership in 2009, a Strategic Partnership in 2020, and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in February 2025. Bilateral relations have continued to grow through regular high-level delegation exchanges, effective bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and close collaboration in regional and international forums, contributing to addressing regional and global challenges.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation continues to expand, with two-way trade rising steadily from 300 million USD in 2009 to over 1.3 billion USD today. Education and training remain highlights of the relationship, with more than 600 Vietnamese officials having received English and professional training in New Zealand since 1992, and over 600 scholarships awarded by the New Zealand Government to Vietnamese students.

New Zealand has also maintained stable Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, implemented meaningful projects such as improving the quality of fruit crops like avocado, dragon fruit, and passion fruit, as well as dam and dyke safety projects in central Vietnam. The two countries are also enhancing cooperation in various fields including agriculture, national defence and security, transport, and climate change adaptation.

These achievements stem from a strong foundation of political trust and growing strategic confidence, underpinned by high-level political will, warm ties between leaders, and deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries. However, much untapped potential remains, Giang said, calling for greater efforts and stronger actions from both sides to elevate the relationship to new heights.

The 2025 milestone holds special significance as the two countries agreed to elevate their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, ambassador Giang emphasized, saying that this move reflects both nations’ firm belief in the future of the bilateral relationship, and their shared resolve to expand cooperation in a new era of development, meeting the aspirations of both peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.

To implement the new partnership framework, Vietnam and New Zealand are urgently working to develop an action plan with concrete measures and projects to unlock and maximize each country’s potential and strengths, cited VNA.

Sharing a common vision and strategic interests in peace, cooperation, and development, the two sides should further deepen political ties, promote substantive defence and security cooperation, enhance all-level delegation exchanges across various channels, and improve the efficiency of existing bilateral mechanisms. In the context of profound regional and global shifts, both countries should strengthen coordination and mutual support in multilateral forums, including ASEAN-led mechanisms and the United Nations.

According to the ambassador, as two highly complementary economies and members of multiple key regional free trade agreements, Vietnam and New Zealand are well-positioned to strengthen economic integration and trade-investment ties. The two sides are working toward a breakthrough to achieve a bilateral trade target of 3 billion USD by 2026. Education and training will remain a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with diverse joint programmé and attractive scholarships to build a high-quality workforce for the future.

Direct flight routes between the two countries are also expected to enhance economic and investment ties, people-to-people exchange, cultural and educational links, and tourism cooperation, bringing Vietnam and New Zealand closer than ever.

Alongside efforts to bolster traditional areas of cooperation, the two countries are expanding into emerging and high-potential sectors such as science and technology, environmental protection solutions, emission reduction, green transition, high-tech agriculture, renewable energy development, and climate change response, aligned with their respective strengths and developmental needs.

Regarding the role of the Vietnamese community in strengthening bilateral ties, Ambassador Giang noted that over 14,000 Vietnamese are currently living in New Zealand. Most have stable lives, with many achieving success in business, academia, public service, and even politics.

Over the years, the Vietnamese community in New Zealand has served as a vital bridge, actively contributing to bilateral relations, uniting the community, and fostering friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries. Many overseas Vietnamese, including intellectuals, scientists, and businesspeople, remain deeply connected to their homeland and are committed to nurturing the bilateral relations. Vietnamese associations frequently organise cultural and culinary events, helping preserve national identity, connect the diaspora, and strengthen their bond with Vietnam.

Vietnam sets up first free trade zone

The Government has decided to establish a free trade zone (FTZ) in the central city of Da Nang, the first of its kind in Vietnam.

Covering an area of around 1,881ha, the FTZ features functional areas covering production-logistics, trade-services, digital technology industries, and innovation.

The FTZ is designed to bolster the development of high-tech industries, innovation and digital transformation in the central city, according to VGP.

Photo: VGP

It is also expected to turn Da Nang into an important hub of supply chain networks in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

In addition to the FTZ, the Government is also mulling over the establishment of an International Financial Center (IFC) in Da Nang.

With its strategic location near major Asian financial hubs, modern infrastructure, dynamic business environment, and high quality of life, Da Nang is well-positioned to become a regional financial node.

Tech giants eye Binh Duong as Vietnam's emerging high-tech hub

A series of recent high-level meetings between Binh Duong leaders and major foreign tech corporations have underscored the southern province’s strategic vision to position artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and the digital economy as pillars of its sustainable growth model.

During a meeting with the provincial authorities on June 13, Ryan Sim, AMD’s Regional Director for Asia-Pacific and Japan, expressed strong interest in potential cooperation in high-tech industries, human resource training, and the development of a semiconductor ecosystem.

The US-based conglomerate is among the world’s leading providers of high-performance processors, AI accelerators, and computing platforms serving industries such as supercomputing, defence, e-government, and generative AI. Its growing interest in Binh Duong signals the province’s increasing relevance in global technology value chains.

As the global semiconductor supply chain undergoes restructuring, Vietnam is emerging as an increasingly attractive destination thanks to its strategic location, political stability, and open economic policies. Binh Duong, in particular, stands out with its integrated industrial infrastructure, adaptive mechanisms, and forward-looking governance, according to VNA.

Leaders of the Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee meet with a delegation from Taiwan (China)'s MiTAC Group. (Photo: VNA)

As of mid-June, the province had attracted more than 4,500 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects from 65 countries and territories, with total registered capital exceeding 42.7 billion USD. Of these, the US had 138 projects worth nearly 1.4 billion USD. These figures highlight significant room for deeper cooperation, especially in core technology sectors.

At a separate meeting with local leaders, Su Liang, Chairman of MiTAC - a multinational tech firm headquartered in Taiwan (China) and operating in over 70 countries with four decades of experience in core technology development and systems integration – praised Binh Duong’s smart city ambitions. He expressed interest in concrete projects such as urban rail systems, smart lighting, and AI-powered city surveillance, while noting that MiTAC’s solutions align well with the province’s digital transformation goals.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Minh Tri affirmed Binh Duong’s commitment to facilitating project implementation, especially in sectors poised to drive a transformation of the local growth model.

Speaking to the press, Bui Thanh Nhan, head of the provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, said the two meetings clearly demonstrate a new vision in the local investment attraction strategy – one that avoids being scattered or focused on quantity, and instead prioritises high value-added, environmentally friendly, and knowledge-intensive industries.

Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%. Under its development plan through 2030 with a vision to 2050, Binh Duong aims to establish around 10 new industrial parks, prioritizing high-tech and eco models.

Vietnam’s trade with ASEAN up 10.4% in five months

Vietnam’s trade value with other ASEAN Member States reached US$38 billion in January-May this year, a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent, statistics of the Department of Vietnam Customs showed.

Of the figure, Vietnam's exports to and imports from the bloc hit US$15.7 billion and US$22.2 billion, up 3.2 percent and 16.2 percent, respectively, resulting in a trade deficit of US$6.51 billion, up 67 percent.

During the period, Thailand was Vietnam's largest export market, with US$3.4 billion, up 3.5 percent compared to the same period last year. The Philippines ranked second, with US$2.49 billion, down 2 percent, cited VGP.

Photo: VGP

Thailand was also Vietnam's biggest supplier of goods in ASEAN, with US$5.24 billion, up 14.3 percent. Indonesia was the runner-up, with US$4.83 billion, up 24.8 percent year-on-year.

HCM City gathering marks Vietnam-Philippine strategic partnership

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) held a gathering on June 16 to mark the 127th anniversary of the Independence Day of the Philippines (June 12) and a decade of the Vietnam–Philippines Strategic Partnership.

In her speech, Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam–Southeast Asia Friendship Association, described the event as a reflection of the enduring solidarity between the two nations and a shared commitment to a future of deeper, long-term cooperation within the ASEAN community.

Since they sealed the strategic partnership in 2015, trade has been booming, hitting US$7.8 billion in 2023, up nearly 70% from a decade back, VOV reported.

The gathering held by the HCM City Union of Friendship Organizations on June 16 (Photo: VNA)

National defense and security ties have also strengthened, with joint maritime patrols signaling enhanced trust. Cultural and educational exchanges have flourished, with thousands of students and professionals engaging across borders.

Xuan further said that her association has closely worked with the Philippine Honorary Consulate General and the Philippine Business Association to organize a range of cultural, educational, and business exchanges, further strengthening mutual understanding and bonds between the two peoples.

Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre pointed to the state visit to Vietnam by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in January 2024 as a milestone, with agreements signed in agriculture, culture, rice trade, and maritime cooperation. He noted expanding collaboration in national defense, security, agriculture, trade, and education, alongside a boost in tourism and commerce driven by increased direct flights.

With Ho Chi Minh City playing a pivotal role in bilateral engagement, Montealegre announced plans for cultural exchanges and business meetups in 2026 to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties.

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