VOV.VN - New Zealand businesses highly appreciated Vietnam’s economic prospects as well as its conducive business investment environment, during their meeting with visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Wellington on March 11.

New Zealand businesses attending the meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Wellington on March 11. (Photo: VNA)

They said they consider the Southeast Asian nation as a gateway into ASEAN, a large and lucrative market of nearly 700 million consumers.

In their views, Vietnam has recorded rapid growth over the years and it has gradually kept pace with international frameworks.

They said some New Zealand businesses have maintained their operations in Vietnam, but they need to engage deeper in the development of the digital technology industry in the country to become a cooperative ecosystem between the two countries.

Some New Zealand businesses expressed their desires to provide vocational skills for Vietnamese workers to meet the country’s development and international cooperation requirements.

In his address, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reviewed the outcome of his March 11 talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, saying the two sides agreed to strengthen political trust, effectively implement trade agreements of which they are both members, and increase cooperation in areas of their strengths.

The two sides should accelerate breakthroughs in cooperation fields such as green transformation, circular economy, labour, health care, and education – training, alongside developing infrastructure to cut logistic costs, generating quality human resources, and perfecting institutions, he suggested.

According to the PM, the two sides have a lot of room to realise their cooperation potential, especially in science - technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transformation.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (centre) speaks at his meeting with New Zealand businesses in Wellington on March 11.

He said during his talks, the two PMs agreed to soon resume direct flights between the two countries to expand cooperation in economics-trade-investment, tourism, culture, sports, and people-to-people, among others.

He also suggested e-commerce as an effective trade cooperation channel that should be fostered in the coming time.

The PM also suggested that the two sides improve the operational efficiency of the Intergovernmental Committee mechanism, promote people-to-people exchanges, and facilitate market access for their key products.

Vietnam prioritizes attracting investment in the fields of science and technology, innovation, green economy, knowledge economy, electronics industry, semiconductor production, hydrogen, high-tech agriculture, green transportation, he stressed.

The PM also proposed that New Zealand continue to support and train Vietnamese businesses, and improve work permits. He expected that businesses would take the lead in connecting and seizing trade, investment, tourism, and labour training opportunities, thereby contributing to strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Vietnam welcomes and creates the best conditions for New Zealand businesses to invest in the country for the win-win outcome, he said.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife paid an official visit to New Zealand on March 10-11 at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.