At a virtual summit on Wednesday, the two Prime Ministers expressed their belief that the new relations will motivate bilateral cooperation for the interests of the two countries and for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Phuc praised the comprehensive development of bilateral friendship and cooperation in the past half a century, particularly in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, agriculture, education, and people to people exchanges. He acknowledged New Zealand’s assistance in Vietnam’s socio-economic development and urged increased bilateral trade to 2 billion USD, widening its market for Vietnamese agricultural products, and sharing experience in building trademarks and value chains. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lauded Vietnam’s success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic saying the two countries will soon restore connections in all areas. She praised Vietnam’s role as a Non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and participation in peacekeeping missions. She thanked Vietnam’s support for promoting the ASEAN-New Zealand Strategic Partnership.