New Zealand’s Speaker of the House: ‘Vietnam Has Undergone Extraordinary Changes’
On his official visit to Vietnam, Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee, spoke to the Vietnamese press about his visit and the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including parliamentary diplomacy.
‘New Zealand Considers Vietnam as a Very Important Partner’
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand, and the two countries have upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. What does this milestone mean to you, and how will it benefit bilateral cooperation in the future?
Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee: New Zealand regards Vietnam as a very important partner, especially given Vietnam’s leading role in ASEAN and various other multilateral agreements.
We value the precious friendship with Vietnam, which has been built and nurtured over the past 50 years and can go even further. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is built on a foundation of extensive cooperation. Both countries are active in international trade and have set a target to increase two-way trade to approximately 3 billion USD by 2030. For a small country like New Zealand with just 5 million people, we will strive to achieve this goal. I personally believe we can do even better.
Equally important is the people-to-people connection, which will continue to be strengthened and enhanced. We encourage more Vietnamese to study, research, and do business in New Zealand, and vice versa, as this will foster greater connections between our people.
Regarding parliamentary cooperation, our processes may differ, but we will find ways to promote collaboration between our parliaments and relevant agencies to the highest possible level. The parliament in any country is crucial as it represents the voices of the people. New Zealand’s parliament is very open, with the participation of various political parties, reflecting diverse viewpoints.
‘We Want to Learn from Vietnam’s Impressive Growth Achievements’
Vietnam and New Zealand closely coordinate in regional and international frameworks such as ASEAN+, APEC, ASEM, and are members of important trade agreements like ANZFTA, CPTPP, and RCEP. In your opinion, how have these frameworks contributed to economic and trade relations, as well as ensuring common strategic interests?
Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee: New Zealand views Vietnam as a reliable partner in the region, especially in implementing multilateral agreements to which both countries are signatories.
Currently, the international situation is undergoing many changes, including challenges related to tariffs, which affect all nations. For New Zealand, building strong relationships with countries in this region is of utmost importance.
We see Vietnam as a country with a strategic leading role in the region and great aspirations for economic development. Economic growth is the path to improving people’s lives in any country. Therefore, we want to learn from Vietnam’s impressive growth achievements in the context of today’s challenging global environment.
Being Vietnam’s Guest During the 80th National Day Celebrations is a Special Experience
Your visit coincides with Vietnam’s preparations for the 80th National Day celebrations. Looking back on the past 80 years, what achievements of Vietnam have impressed you the most?
Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee: Being Vietnam’s guest just a few days before the National Day celebrations on September 2nd is a special experience.
Here in Hanoi, and I believe across the whole of Vietnam, one can feel the excitement of the people in the atmosphere of the Independence Day celebrations, affirming Vietnam as an independent country contributing to world peace. This enthusiasm is evident in the streets, with flags and flowers, festive attire, and the bustling activities of the people. Being able to witness this moment is a great honor for us.
When I was younger, I followed the difficult journeys that Vietnam had to go through after its establishment in 1945. Vietnam has gradually emerged from that period to become a peaceful and developing country. In my opinion, this is a remarkable achievement.
Since the restoration of peace, Vietnam has undergone extraordinary changes. Currently, the country is on the threshold of a leap in GDP growth per capita, which will improve the lives of its people. It is this aspiration and perseverance over the years that impresses us the most.
New Zealand has recently increased the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students by 56%. What steps will New Zealand take in the future to continue attracting Vietnamese students and deepen educational cooperation between the two countries?
Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee: First of all, New Zealand is a peaceful country. Although geographically distant from Vietnam, the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, though small, is closely connected and represents your country well.
Our universities are ranked in the top 2% globally, offering high-quality education. New Zealand provides scholarships to future Vietnamese leaders to study in our country, not only to foster beautiful memories but also to contribute to both Vietnam and New Zealand with their acquired knowledge.
Accompanying me on this visit is Lam Pham, a Vietnamese-origin Member of the New Zealand Parliament. This shows that the Vietnamese community is well represented in New Zealand society, despite our small population.
Scholarships are an important way to promote education and allow students to share their experiences. I expect that as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to develop, the number of scholarships will not only be maintained but also potentially expanded.
On regional and global issues such as peacekeeping, responding to climate change, and sustainable development, how can the two countries cooperate more closely to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world?
Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee: Vietnam has affirmed its independent foreign policy, not taking sides, and this aligns with the goals of maintaining global peace.
New Zealand currently has peacekeeping forces in about 32 conflict zones worldwide. Some of these deployments have lasted for many years; for example, we have been present in the Sinai desert since 1972. We also have peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, the Syria-Jordan border area, Sudan, and many other places.
The demand for peacekeeping forces will increase in the future. I believe the international community will turn to countries deeply committed to peace, like Vietnam. There are many opportunities for Vietnam and New Zealand to cooperate closely in this field.
Thank you, Speaker of the New Zealand House, Gerry Brownlee, for your insights!
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