The National Assembly, government and people of Vietnam will do their utmost to take bilateral ties with New Zealand to new heights, especially in trade and investment, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said Wednesday.

Smith expressed support for Vietnam at regional and international forums such as the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), the AIPA, the Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly as well as the United Nations.

He said New Zealand was willing to help Vietnam in its areas of strength including trade, investment, education, science and technology, agriculture and aviation.

The parliament of New Zealand would introduce policies to help balance bilateral trade and encourage its businesses to invest in Vietnam, Smith said.

The visiting parliamentary speaker also encouraged more Vietnamese students to study in New Zealand and proposed stronger links between the two countries’ universities.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and New Zealand has increased modestly from US$187 million in 2001 to more than $313 million last year, according to the national radio broadcaster Voice of Vietnam’s website.

Source: TN