Vietnam and New Zealand have elevated their bilateral relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Up to now, Vietnam has established comprehensive stategic partnership with 10 countries, including China (2008), Russia (2012), India (2016), South Korea (2022), the US (2023), Japan (2023), Australia (2024), France (2024), Malaysia (2024), and New Zealand (2025).

According to the Vietnam News Agency, a joint statement on the elevation of the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and New Zealand to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was issued on the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon from February 25-28, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The joint statement stated that the two Prime Ministers agreed to formally elevate the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking the 50th year of diplomatic relations. “Over the next year a joint Plan of Action will be developed that will outline specific initiatives under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which will focus on five main pillars for strengthened cooperation, namely: (i) political engagement, (ii) defense, security and oceans, (iii) economics, trade and investment, (iv) climate change, science and technology; and (v) education and people to people links,” the joint statement said.

Regarding bilateral economic, trade, and investment partnerships, the joint statement affirmed that trade, investment, and economic ties will be a central focus of the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to the joint statement, during their meeting the two Prime Ministers highlighted trade cooperation as a key component of the relationship, for the direct benefit of the people and businesses of the two countries. The two sides previously agreed a two-way trade target of $3 billion  in 2026. To that end, the two sides committed to individual and joint actions in standards development and trade facilitation, information exchange, market access enhancements, and collaboration between our customs and other relevant agencies.

“Both sides re-dedicated themselves to deepening regional economic integration. The two sides pledged their unwavering support for the rules-based, free, open, transparent, and inclusive multilateral trading system, including reform of the World Trade Organization. In this regard, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA),” the statement noted.

Regarding cooperation on science, climate change, and technology , the statement affirmed that  further cooperation through New Zealand's sustained bilateral and regional official development assistance remains a priority, particularly in areas of New Zealand’s strength and Vietnam's priority such as high-quality human resources development, women’s empowerment and gender equality, climate change and economic resilience, sustainable water management, agriculture, and disaster risk management.

“The two sides recognized the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the importance of adapting to climate impacts and reaffirmed their commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement. The two sides are committed to supporting existing initiatives of which both countries are members, including the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. Both sides share a common aim to reduce the impacts of climate change and prepare for its future impacts, including through the transition to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy that is just, inclusive, cost-effective, evidence-based, and that enables private investment and partnerships, access to the best available technologies knowledge sharing and competitive markets. To this end, the two sides have signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Climate Change Cooperation and will strengthen cooperation on adaptation and mitigation, including carbon markets,” the statement said.

It noted that the two sides committed to further enhancing bilateral agriculture cooperation to support Vietnam to become a climate-resilient and modern agriculture producer. “This is including through joint research, collaboration, and action on climate change, climate-smart agriculture, technical assistance on plant health laboratory accreditation, plant breeding, and commercialization of agriculture products,” the statement said.