Vietnam and New Zealand Expand Strategic Partnership During State Visit

President To Lam of Vietnam conducted the first state visit by a Vietnamese president to New Zealand since 2007 on August 13, 2026. Meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland and Wellington, the leaders advanced their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through the exchange of cooperation documents covering peacekeeping, defense, and the environment.

The two nations set a bilateral trade goal of US$3 billion and expanded market access for New Zealand honey and deer products, as well as Vietnamese cut flowers and foliage. They pledged to promote a green, low-emission economy, with a specific focus on climate-change adaptation in the Mekong Delta. Both leaders also committed to supporting a rules-based international order and the peaceful settlement of disputes under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

During the Vietnam–New Zealand higher and vocational education forum in Auckland, the leaders signed an agreement to accelerate digital transformation and develop high-quality human resources. President To Lam called for substantive partnerships in artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity to support knowledge-based economies. New Zealand Minister Penny Simmonds affirmed that educational cooperation remains a cornerstone of the relationship, pledging continued support for academic exchanges and English-language training for Vietnamese officials.