State Dinner for the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

May I welcome you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand—English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language:

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)

May I specifically greet you: Your Excellency, Mr Nguyen Minh Triet, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and your wife, Madam Tran Thi Kim Chi; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Gia Khiem and your wife, Madam Nguyen Hong Khanh; Your Excellency, Vuong Hai Nam, Ambassador to New Zealand; Your Excellency Dr James Kember, New Zealand's Ambassador to Viet Nam; Simon Murdoch, Secretary for Foreign Affairs & Trade; John McKinnon, Secretary for Defence; Karen Sewell, Secretary for Education; Members of the President's delegation and distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

To our Vietnamese guests I say:  Chao mung Ngai va Phu Nhan toi NZ (Welcome to New Zealand).

Your Excellency—I want first to register thanks for your visit to us in New Zealand.  My wife Susan and I have the privilege to declare that to you, on behalf of all New Zealanders.

The relationship between our two countries is marked by warmth and co-operation.

While we have shared diplomatic relations for more than 30 years, I am advised that this is the first time that a President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has visited these shores. This visit reflects the depth and breadth of the relationship between New Zealand and Viet Nam.

In 1995 New Zealand opened an Embassy in Ha Noi, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise established a commercial office—and Consulate General—in Ho Chi Minh City.

In recent years official and business contacts have grown significantly.  Many senior officials have studied English in New Zealand or visited on study tours while many younger students have also studied in New Zealand.  Your new Ambassador, His Excellency Vuong Hai Nam, for example, is a graduate of the English Language Training for Officials (ELTO) Programme, whilst a nephew of former Vice-President, Truong My Hoa, was a student at Victoria University here in Wellington last year.

In May 2003, your Embassy in Wellington was officially opened and this was followed later that year by a visit by New Zealand's Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Helen Clark, to Viet Nam.  That visit consolidated these links and moved the Viet Nam-New Zealand relationship to a higher level.

The thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 2005 was marked by the visit of then Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to New Zealand.  During that visit, the two Prime Ministers signed a Joint Declaration of Co-operation, which established a framework for strengthening bilateral relations. That year culminated with a very successful visit to Viet Nam by my predecessor, Dame Silvia Cartwright that added considerable depth and momentum to the bilateral relationship. The then Vice-President of Viet Nam, Madam Truong My Hoa, visited New Zealand in October 2006. 

There is now a strong and healthy trade between New Zealand and Viet Nam, worth more than $394 million last year.  New Zealand exports a host of agricultural products, such as butter, milk powder, timber, meat and hides and receives in return a wide range of goods including furniture, engines, footwear, coffee and computers.  There is also a considerable trade in services such as software and education while an increasing number of New Zealanders have visited Viet Nam as tourists. 

Viet Nam has experienced significant economic growth in recent years and is rightfully proud of its achievements in reducing poverty.  New Zealand sees Viet Nam as an increasingly influential economy in the region and we are keen to develop our economic relationship.

In addition to the growing trade and bilateral relationship, New Zealand and Viet Nam have participated in a number of international and regional organisations. These include APEC and the World Trade Organisation, and I congratulate Viet Nam on its formal accession to the WTO earlier this year.  Both our nations share a commitment to promoting reform of the United Nations and to ensuring the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.  New Zealand was one of the first countries to support Viet Nam's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Your Excellency, all these links augur well for the developing relationship between our two countries.  Both Viet Nam and New Zealand are committed to efforts to ensure the Pacific Ocean—the deep blue sea that links our two countries—lives up to its name. 

I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages.  May I close by speaking in Maori issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.

And to our Vietnamese guests: Cam On (thank you)