The significance of the Vietnam-New Zealand relations would lay the foundation for stronger cooperation between Hanoi and localities in New Zealand.

Hanoi's delegation during a meeting with the Wellington City Council. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong made the remarks at a meeting with representatives of the  Wellington City Council, during the visit of Hanoi’s high-ranking delegation to New Zealand and Australia from October 6 to 15.

The Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee put forth a series of proposals to enhance cooperation between the two capital cities in areas of mutual interest, including (i) facilitating the exchange of high-level delegations, business delegations, and academic institutions between Wellington and Hanoi. This would include welcoming Wellington-based organizations, universities, and businesses to Hanoi to explore new avenues for cooperation and investment; (ii) promoting scholarship programs to encourage Vietnamese students to study abroad in Wellington and facilitating training programs to raise the level of  English proficiency among teachers; (iii) fostering cultural and artistic exchanges and strengthening collaboration in the cultural industries and innovation sector. This would also include sharing experiences as members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

During a visit to the Wellington Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Phong emphasized Hanoi's interest in promoting this sector and hoped for closer collaboration.

This would entail partnering with Hanoi agencies in areas such as startups, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, innovation in education and public services, and consultation on public policy development and social security.

Additionally, there was an aspiration to establish a representative office of the Center in Hanoi.

Highlighting educational cooperation as a promising aspect of the bilateral relationship during the visit to Victoria University, Phong suggested that cooperation be strengthened through joint training programs. These programs would include English language courses for Hanoi officials and civil servants and the establishment of training facilities associated with the university in Hanoi.

During discussions at the Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand, the Deputy Secretary provided an update on Hanoi's recent socio-economic development achievements.  He also expressed the hope that the Embassy would continue to serve as a bridge to promote Hanoi's image to international partners. Areas of potential collaboration included higher education, training professionals in information technology and digital transformation, organizing cultural exchange events, fostering the development of the cultural industry, and facilitating the import and export of agricultural products.