With concrete and substantive cooperation outcomes, the visits achieved their objectives to a high degree, expanding the space for cooperation and providing strong momentum to elevate relations between Viet Nam and Australia and New Zealand — Viet Nam’s comprehensive strategic partners in the South Pacific — to a new level. Cooperation outcomes in such areas as the economy, science and technology, innovation, and green transition demonstrate efforts to turn diplomatic achievements into essential strength and resources for national development.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s first visits to Australia and New Zealand in his new capacity mark a historic milestone, affirming the high importance the Party and State of Viet Nam attach to promoting relations with the two South Pacific partners. These relationships that have been painstakingly nurtured for more than half a century, overcoming the challenges posed by geographical distance and the passage of time. The visits also helped strengthen ties between General Secretary and President To Lam and the leaders of the two friendly countries, thereby creating more favourable conditions for Viet Nam and its partners to enhance cooperation and connectivity, continue to accompany and support one another, and jointly navigate profound changes in the regional and global situation, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development around the world.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to Australia set out strategic orientations and practical frameworks for the Viet Nam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new period.
The friendship and fruitful cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia have demonstrated remarkable resilience over time. The new context and development goals of both countries make it imperative to continue elevating bilateral relations to a new level. General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to Australia set out strategic orientations and practical frameworks for the Viet Nam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new period.
The two countries issued three joint statements: the Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and Australia; the Joint Statement on Economic Resilience Cooperation; and especially, the Joint Statement on the Enhancement of Science, Technology, and Innovation Connectivity between two countries. The latter opens a new model of cooperation, moving from technology transfer towards joint development in areas regarded as key drivers of Viet Nam’s development in the new era.
During his talks and meetings with Australian leaders, General Secretary and President To Lam stressed that Australia is a friend and trusted partner with many strategic interests in common with Viet Nam. Viet Nam values Australia’s companionship and support throughout the country’s development process and wishes to make bilateral relations increasingly substantive, in-depth, and effective. Both sides expressed confidence that the foundation of political trust, increasingly intertwined interests, and new drivers of cooperation would usher Viet Nam–Australia relations into a deeper phase of development, bringing practical benefits to the people and businesses of both countries.
Meanwhile, Viet Nam and New Zealand also enjoy close and effective partnership relations based on more than 50 years of friendship and shared values, including a commitment to peace and sustainable development.
Viet Nam and New Zealand’s joint statement noted that General Secretary and President To Lam and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reviewed the achievements made in bilateral relations since the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2025. The two sides reaffirmed the solid foundation of Viet Nam–New Zealand relations, while agreeing to maintain high-level political contacts and strengthen coordination at multilateral forums to help reinforce the rules-based system.
Talks and meetings between General Secretary and President To Lam and New Zealand leaders all emphasised the need to make greater use of the complementarities between the two economies. The two sides agreed to expand economic and trade cooperation; effectively utilise free trade agreements to which both countries are parties, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); promote trade facilitation; and open markets to each other’s key agricultural products.
The determination to strengthen business connectivity between the two countries, creating a foundation and equipping Viet Nam and New Zealand to move confidently into a new period of development, was clearly reflected in General Secretary and President To Lam’s remarks at the New Zealand-Viet Nam business roundtable. General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that the success of Viet Nam-New Zealand economic cooperation would not be measured solely by trade turnover or the number of projects, but by the quality of connectivity, technological content, the extent of participation in new value chains, and the tangible benefits delivered to businesses and people in both countries.
With a series of significant outcomes, General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visits to Australia and New Zealand, together with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, marked a milestone in the development of Viet Nam’s relations with its two South Pacific partners, helping strengthen political trust and promote dynamic and effective cooperation.
At the multilateral level, Viet Nam and its South Pacific partners reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation on regional and international issues. As an active, proactive, and responsible member of ASEAN, Viet Nam pledged to continue serving as a bridge connecting ASEAN with Australia and New Zealand.
With a series of significant outcomes, General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visits to Australia and New Zealand together with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation marked a milestone in the development of Viet Nam’s relations with its two South Pacific partners, helping strengthen political trust and promote dynamic and effective cooperation. The visits also conveyed a message of appreciation and determination to nurture the longstanding friendship between Viet Nam and the two friendly countries, enabling diplomacy to fulfil its mission in the new era of creating space for development, connecting resources, and enhancing national strength for the country’s future, while also contributing to peace, stability, security, and development in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
