New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters emphasised the importance that New Zealand attaches to the Southeast Asian nation in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of his official visit to Vietnam on June 5-6, during which he co-chaired the second Vietnam-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

According to Peters, his visit aimed to “rapidly improve, strengthen and upgrade the bilateral relationship”, exchange views on matters important to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and adjacent areas, and renew “the decades-old connection between our two countries.”

It also gave a clear signal that the two countries hope for more frequent meetings to discuss issues where they can make “far more progress and far more quickly,” he said.

Stressing Vietnam’s importance to New Zealand, the official said the two countries have cooperated in a range of areas, from politics and national defence and security to trade, education and tourism.

Peters highlighted collaboration in agriculture, elaborating on the study of certain agricultural products in Vietnam and their viability and sustainability, and biosecurity issues, which he believed would be a big help to countries in Asia.

The Deputy PM and FM said although Vietnam and New Zealand have different political systems, both believe in the rule of law and respect international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

New Zealand appreciates Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, he said, noting the two countries “can agree on so many other things, benefiting both of us and our neighbourhood.”

Regarding the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025, Peters informed that there will be a lot of celebration activities, notably the Vietnam visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and his trip was also part of preparations for the celebration.

“We have so many engagements in connections, where Vietnam is critical to us and ASEAN,” he said, adding that New Zealand gives high priority to the grouping in its new foreign policy.

The two countries are working to enhance their economic ties and effectively implement commitments within the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to which both are members, he said.