(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Auckland on Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and New Zealand Foreign Minister Muray McCully (Photo: VNA)

The officials emphasized the need to increase the exchange of all-level delegations and between the two countries’ regions, in addition to boosting bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the political consultations between the two foreign ministries and the joint committee on economic and trade cooperation.

They agreed on reaching the target of 1.7 billion USD of bilateral trade by 2020 as set by senior leaders, thus making economic cooperation a pillar of the bilateral ties.

The officials exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern, including the latest developments of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, to which both Vietnam and New Zealand are signatories, as well as Vietnam hosting the APEC Year in 2017.  

The two leaders also discussed the East Sea dispute and the importance of ensuring peace, stability, maritime freedom and security in the region, and resolving the matter in compliance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.