Vietnam’s Dynamic Growth Impresses Former New Zealand Ambassador

	PM Christopher Luxon's Visit Strengthens Vietnam-New Zealand Relations
	NZ Expert: Wellington Should Deepen Vietnam, ASEAN Ties

In an interview with a VNA correspondent in Oceania on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand (June 19, 1975 - June 19, 2025), James Kember, who served as New Zealand's Ambassador to Vietnam from 2006 to 2009, remarked:

“With a young population, a strong emphasis on education, and particularly clear goals and ambitions for achieving greater economic development, it is no surprise that Vietnam has made steady and rapid progress over the past 10 to 15 years.”

James Kember, former New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam from 2006 to 2009. (Photo: VNA)

According to the former ambassador, this progress has been supported by many factors, including contributions from the overseas Vietnamese community.

James Kember recalled telling a colleague during his time in Vietnam that although the country might have been developing more slowly than others at the time, he firmly believed it would make a rapid breakthrough and soon surpass other economies. Today, his prediction has proven accurate.

He shared that from the very first weeks after arriving in Vietnam in mid-2006, he observed that the country placed great importance on education, recognizing it as a foundation for future development. Vietnam made strategic decisions to maximize opportunities in this sector.

Many Vietnamese students have come to study in New Zealand, which demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment not only to domestic education but also to encouraging young people to study and explore abroad, he noted.

Alongside the strong educational ties between Vietnam and New Zealand, many New Zealand companies have supported Vietnam’s economic development in sectors such as food and dairy, manufacturing, and service provision.

Ambassador Kember said his time working in Vietnam was exceptionally fulfilling and enriching, and he expressed delight in witnessing the country’s transformation since then.

He recalled that during his tenure, the trade and development team at the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam was constantly busy.

During his business trips throughout the country, he was pleased to learn about the ways New Zealand could contribute to development programs in various Vietnamese provinces. New Zealand’s customs, defense, and police attachés frequently visited and engaged with their Vietnamese counterparts to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The Vietnamese Student Association in New Zealand, the Wellington Capital Student Association in collaboration with the Vietnamese Community Association in Wellington and the Vietnamese Embassy, organized "Vietnam Cultural Day 2024." (Photo: Vietnam Embassy in New Zealand)

Defense relations were promoted through naval visits, high-level military delegations, and discussions on Vietnam’s potential contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

At this time, when Vietnam was taking on greater leadership roles in regional initiatives, Ambassador Kember was especially pleased that New Zealand could expand English-language training opportunities for Vietnam’s senior and mid-level officials.

He was particularly excited to be in Vietnam when the country hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in 2006 and to be directly involved in successful negotiations for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in 2010 shortly after his term ended.

As Vietnam and New Zealand upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in early 2025, James Kember noted that the standards for cooperation have become higher, but emphasized that action speaks louder than words. According to him, both countries have had deeper exchanges that are mutually beneficial.

He stressed the importance of finding common ground and identifying the reasons for differences, particularly as both Vietnam and New Zealand are located in the Asia-Pacific, a region undergoing significant change.

For James Kember, trade relations, cooperation in areas such as defense and education, and people-to-people exchanges are key to the bilateral relationship. He believes these areas require continuous efforts from all stakeholders, both at the governmental level and among organizations, to turn intentions into positive action.

New Zealand Highly Values Vietnam's Role and Position, Says Ambassador Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters has paid working visits to four Asian nations from June 5 to ...

Vietnam And New Zealand Target US$3 Billion Trade Turnover By 2026 At the second Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting on June 5, the two countries agreed to jointly prepare foreign affairs activities in 2025 when the ...