New Zealand will continue to provide official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the coming years to assist the Southeast Asian nation in its socio-economic development and poverty eradication, said Prime Minister John Key. PM Key made this affirmation at a meeting in Bali, Indonesia on Oct 7 with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang on the sidelines of the 21st APEC Summit, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed. President Sang and PM Key discussed measures to strengthen the two countries’ comprehensive partnership. They agreed to effectively implement the Action Plan for the 2013-2016 period to boost bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, investment, agriculture and education. They also discussed bilateral cooperation in APEC and coordination in TPP’s negotiations. Currently, New Zealand is ranked the 20th largest foreign investor in Vietnam with total investment of $77.8 million in 20 projects. The two countries target to raise the two-way trade to $1 billion by 2015 from $600 million in 2012. (mofa.gov.vn Oct 7)
