NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets with New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Cherie Dobson in Hanoi on June 14. (Photo: VNA)

Mr. Hue said Vietnam always attaches importance to the strategic partnership with New Zealand.

The top legislator also thanked the New Zealand Government for providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam to realise the sustainable development goals, with a focus on the fields matching New Zealand’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as agriculture, rural development, human resources training, natural disaster and climate change management and response, and poverty reduction.

He asked New Zealand to soon finalise procedures for opening its market to Vietnam’s specialty fruits and boost the import of agro-forestry-fishery products from Vietnam so as to raise bilateral trade to 2 billion USD by 2024.

The NA leader also encouraged New Zealand businesses to invest in Vietnam, especially in the agro-fishery processing industry.

At the meeting, Ambassador Dobson spoke highly of the Vietnamese NA’s role in promoting economic and trade development by ratifying free trade agreements.

Dobson added that New Zealand wishes to coordinate with the Vietnamese NA to share experience in digital economic development and digital transformation which need policies and laws for overcoming challenges.

Highlighting the successful partnership in commercialising three high-value dragon fruit varieties in 2021, she said agriculture is a pillar in bilateral cooperation.

New Zealand will carry out a similar project on passion fruit - another high-value produce of Vietnam and is willing to strengthen ties in high-tech farming.