The General Secretary and President began visiting New Zealand

The plane carrying General Secretary and President To Lam left Australia and landed at Auckland International Airport this afternoon, according to VNA.

The visit took place at the invitation of New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro, marking the first time General Secretary and President To Lam visited this country as Head of the Party and State.

General Secretary and President To Lam then received Mr. Steven Joyce, acting Chairman of the New Zealand – Vietnam Friendship Association and a number of outstanding members of the association in Auckland city.

The General Secretary and President acknowledged the association’s activities that have contributed to promoting Vietnam – New Zealand relations over the past time, spreading the friendship between the two countries to New Zealanders and the New Zealand Vietnamese community, and consolidating a solid social foundation for bilateral relations.

The Head of the Party and State hopes that the New Zealand – Vietnam Friendship Association will continue to promote its role as a bridge, contributing to promoting relations between the two countries, considering education and training as a focus of cooperation, and promoting cooperation in the fields of science and technology, climate change response, economics, green agriculture and clean agriculture.

The General Secretary and President also hope that the association will continue to pay attention and support the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, creating favorable conditions for people to stabilize their lives, work, integrate well, and contribute positively to the host country, their homeland, and the country.

Acting President Steven Joyce affirmed that he and the New Zealand – Vietnam Friendship Association are willing to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, promoting their role as a bridge and making more practical contributions to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

General Secretary and President To Lam this afternoon also met with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand and presented a statue of President Ho Chi Minh to the Embassy.

Vietnam – New Zealand established diplomatic relations on June 19, 1975, upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in February 2025. According to statistics from Vietnam customs, Vietnam’s total import-export turnover with New Zealand in 2025 will reach 1.5 billion USD.

Vietnam is New Zealand’s 12th largest trading partner, and New Zealand is Vietnam’s 41st trading partner. The Vietnamese community in New Zealand has about 14,000 people, of which 8,000 are long-time overseas Vietnamese, mainly living in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.