During the stay, Ardern had a series of important activities. She paid a courtesy visit to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, met President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and held talks and media briefings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Party leader welcomed the New Zealand Prime Minister's official visit to Vietnam (Photo: VNA).

Party leader Trong welcomed the New Zealand Prime Minister's official visit to Vietnam; highly appreciated the results of talks between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to strengthen political relations, and economic cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges in various fields. He also spoke highly of the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries.

The Party leader expressed his affection towards the nation, and the people of New Zealand and expected the visit to open up a new practical development stage on the ground of past achievements, including cooperation in human resources development, education and training, agriculture and rural development.

On this occasion, the Party chief thanked New Zealand for supporting Vietnam over the past few years including the assistance with vaccines against COVID-19, helping Vietnam fight the pandemic, kick-off resumption, and recovering socio-economy.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA).

The New Zealand Prime Minister thanked the Party General Secretary for spending time receiving her and the delegation and expressed her joy at her return to Vietnam as well as the great and positive changes Vietnam has made in recent years.

Ardern informed the Party General Secretary of the results of talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, hoping that the New Zealand delegation will further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries.

*Earlier Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern laid a wreath and visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; visited President Ho Chi Minh's relic in the Presidential Palace with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. She delivered a speech at Vietnam-New Zealand Business Dialogue and the agriculture connection event named AgriConnectioNZ.

She also visited Ho Chi Minh City and joined the Women's Summit 2022 themed "Women change the world", and met the business community and business women of New Zealand and Vietnam in the city.

Addressing AgriConnectioNZ, Ardern highly appreciated products from Ecostore. Like all New Zealand businesses, Ecostore wants to work towards a goal that's not just for profits. We want to care for our customers, people, and our planet, she said.

Our products are safe for customers and the planet. And so is the packaging. We can reuse bottles and keep recycling them until we continue to buy the product, she said.

Attending the event were also Joe Nelson, New Zealand Consul General/Trade Commissioner in Ho Chi Minh City; Pablo Kraus, Ecostore CEO; Le Van May, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Lotus Group and Le May Production, Trading and Service Co., Ltd. Participants also included representatives of technical, commercial, educational organizations and outstanding businesses in New Zealand.

This event marked the cooperation of Ecostore brand from New Zealand and Le May company - the exclusive distributor in Vietnam after more than three years since Ecostore entered the Vietnamese market.

Founded in 1993 in the New Zealand eco-village, Ecostore did research to launch home, personal and baby care products with plant-based ingredients which eliminate harmful chemicals for the human body and environmentally friendly bagasse packaging.

During 30 years of development, Ecostore is currently spreading the message "Choose a better tomorrow" worldwide, including Vietnam. Ecostore is aiming at a healthier individual, and a safer home, which little by little will create a more sustainable world./.

Q.Lien