(VOVworld) – The “New Zealand – Open to the new” program to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Vietnam was officially kicked off at a Thursday press briefing in Hanoi. Highlights of the program include a New Zealand food & wine festival, cultural and education exhibitions in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, and Da Nang, a fashion collaboration project, and a competition entitled “New Zealand – New horizon”. The New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Haike Manning spoke at the event: “I see a comprehensive partnership, strengthening and maturing in the coming years. I see our relationship increasing significantly and huge potential for Vietnam and for New Zealand to work closely together after the TPP or the Trans Pacific Partnership is signed to develop, produce, and market products together in a few markets such as the US and Japan. I also see a huge opportunity to grow the education relationship as I want to see those connections between our young people growing. I want to see more New Zealanders becoming connected to knowing more about Vietnam and more Vietnamese becoming connected to knowing more about New Zealand.” 

New Zealand's Ambassador to Vietnam Haike Manning speaks at the press briefing in Hanoi on February 5th, 2015.