Ministry Statements and Speeches 2010

Waitangi Day Speech in Hanoi, Vietnam

Address by H.E. Ms Heather Riddell, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, 4 February 2010

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development HE Mr Cao Duc Phat; members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

It is a particular pleasure to be able to host my first national day function as ambassador to Viet Nam.  On behalf of all my colleagues at the New Zealand Embassy, the New Zealand Consulate General in HCMC, I would like to welcome you all here tonight.

Waitangi Day has a special significance for us this year.   6 February 2010 marks the 170th anniversary of the signing of a treaty at Waitangi in the north of New Zealand between the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs. The treaty defined a partnership between the people of the land whose culture and those who came to New Zealand in search of a better life. It is regarded as the founding document of New Zealand as a nation and continues to define our journey.  6 February will be an opportunity for New Zealanders to reflect on the lessons and achievements of the past 170 years and to look forward to the challenges still ahead.   

2010 is also the 35th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Viet Nam and New Zealand, and, as Viet Nam assumes the chairmanship, also the 35th anniversary of our dialogue partnership with ASEAN.  For these two reasons 2010 is a very significant year for us here in Viet Nam.

The year commences on the crest of a thriving bilateral relationship.  Last year, during the visit to New Zealand of HE General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Viet Nam and New Zealand announced the establishment of a Comprehensive Partnership Framework that reflects the real closeness of our bilateral partnership.  We are now engaged on the task of defining an action plan that will give practical impetus to the agreements reached in Wellington last year. 

2010 has already seen some milestones already achieved or shortly to be realized 

1. The visit to Viet Nam of Hon Murray McCully the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs – the first of what we expect to be a series of high level visits in both directions over the coming months
2. The entry into force of AANZFTA on 1 January opening new bilateral and regional trade and investment opportunities for both New Zealand and Viet Nam. We are planning a number of activities to raise the profile of the agreement with business interests,
3. The imminent commencement of negotiations on the TPP – of which NZ is a member of the original four founding members -  with the involvement of Viet Nam as an associate member
4. The holding of our biannual Joint Trade and Economic Commission consultations 
5. The signature  of a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation on Science and Technology
6. The near conclusion of similar framework agreements for customs and police cooperation
7. A growing education relationship with high potential for further expansion both in the area of policy dialogue and educational services – 40% increase in Vietnamese student numbers to NZ in the last year
8. A second track two dialogue building on a successful inaugural dialogue held in Viet Nam last year
9. An active defence dialogue that will see the Chief of the New Zealand Army visit Viet Nam in March and the Vice Minister of Defence visit New Zealand in the same month
10. Pursuit of shared international interests such in the area of climate change,  where Viet Nam has joined New Zealand as a partner in the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases

Looking further out to the second half of the year, our shared regional interests will be a key focus including through New Zealand high level participation in EAS, ASEAN and ARF meetings.

We are looking forward to a busy and challenging year for the bilateral relationship   

I would like to wish Viet Nam well for its year as ASEAN chair and every success for associated meetings and events, for the millennium  anniversary of Ha Noi, and, together, for the success of our comprehensive bilateral partnership during the 35th year of bilateral relations and beyond.

And I would like to wish all of you a peaceful Tet holiday and a successful and happy new year to follow. 

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