This marks Speaker Brownlee’s first visit to Viet Nam since taking office, a highly significant event coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and New Zealand - a milestone in their shared journey of development.
Viet Nam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on June 19, 1975. The seeds of friendship sown by generations of leaders and people over the past half-century have today grown into a flourishing tree.
Political trust has been steadily strengthened through regular high-level visits and contacts, as well as bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, political consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Joint Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation, and the Defence Strategic Dialogue.
New Zealand has consistently affirmed the importance it attaches to its relations with Viet Nam, viewing Viet Nam as a key partner in its Asia–Pacific policy.
In February 2025, during the official visit to Viet Nam by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the two countries elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a landmark achievement in their 50-year journey together. This upgrade ushered in a new phase of cooperation, grounded in long-term strategic vision.
High political trust has laid the foundation for many positive outcomes. Viet Nam is currently New Zealand’s 12th largest trading partner, with two-way trade growing steadily year by year. In the first half of 2025, bilateral trade reached 737.2 million USD, up 18.8% from the same period in 2024.
New Zealand has 57 investment projects in Viet Nam, with total registered capital of 208.6 million USD, focusing on education and training, manufacturing and processing, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and construction.
The country also provides Viet Nam with stable and gradually increasing ODA, prioritising areas such as agriculture, education, climate change adaptation, and the development of drought-resistant rice varieties in the Mekong Delta.
In the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, New Zealand has stood by Viet Nam in times of difficulty: contributing 170,000 NZD in relief for the central region during the 2020 floods, donating 30,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, and providing 2 million NZD for post-pandemic recovery. Most recently, New Zealand granted a 1 million NZD aid package to help Viet Nam overcome the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.
Education is one of the most dynamic areas of Viet Nam - New Zealand cooperation. The two countries have signed the Viet Nam–New Zealand Strategic Partnership Plan on Education for the 2023–2026 period. New Zealand has supported Viet Nam with English language training for officials and civil servants since 1992, and continues to provide scholarships for Vietnamese students.
In February 2025, New Zealand announced 98 scholarships annually for Vietnamese students to pursue programmes at secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
Parliamentary cooperation has been a bright spot in Viet Nam–New Zealand relations, marked by many memorable milestones. The relationship between the two legislatures has continued to deepen and deliver practical results.
The cooperation agreement signed in December 2016 provided a legal framework for bilateral parliamentary activities. The 15th National Assembly of Viet Nam also established the Viet Nam–New Zealand Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Both sides work closely together at regional and international parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia–Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).
The official visit of the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives to Viet Nam affirms New Zealand’s recognition of Vietnam’s role, position, and prestige in the region and on the international stage.
Welcoming the New Zealand Speaker shortly after the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership demonstrates Viet Nam’s determination to implement the cooperation directions agreed upon by the two countries’ top leaders, further deepening collaboration in trade, investment, defence and security, education, agriculture, and climate change response.
The visit also offers an opportunity for Viet Nam and New Zealand to strengthen connections through the parliamentary diplomacy channel, enhance the exchange of legislative experiences, and improve oversight of policy and law implementation for the development of both nations.
