Talks with Viet Nam’s Defence Minister
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Minister
of Defence
22 March
2013
Media Statement
Talks with Viet Nam’s Defence
Minister
Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman
has held a bilateral meeting in Auckland today with Viet
Nam’s Minister of National Defence.
The visit by
General Phung Quang Thanh is the first to New Zealand by a
Viet Nam Minister of National Defence.
“This was a welcome opportunity for a bilateral meeting and we discussed a broad range of defence-related issues in Asia Pacific, as well as opportunities for future co-operation in the region,” said Dr Coleman.
General Thanh is in the country until March 25th. His programme has included meetings with the Chief of Defence, Secretary of Defence, and a visit to the NZDF Joint Force headquarters.
New Zealand enjoys a productive bilateral relationship with Viet Nam. Prime Minister John Key visited Viet Nam twice in 2010. Minister Thanh’s visit is the third by a Vietnamese Politburo member to New Zealand since 2012.
ENDS