NZ prime minister arrives in Vietnam
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has arrived in Vietnam for an official three-day visit ahead of the APEC summit in Bangkok.
She has met with Ho Chi Minh City party chief, Nguyen Minh Triet, and on Friday will fly to Hanoi for meetings with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and other officials.
New Zealand's ambassador to Vietnam, Malcolm McGoun, says there are no specific issues to negotiate and the visit is about reaffirming what is already a good relationship with Vietnam.
The last visit to Vietnam by a New Zealand prime minister was made by Jim Bolger in 1995.
On Friday, Prime Minister Clark will witness the formal signing of a bilateral Air Services Agreement, which was initialled in February this year after 10 years of negotiations.
New Zealand exports to Vietnam in the 12 months until the end of June 2003 amounted to around $US86.8 million, with Vietnamese exports to New Zealand over the same period coming in at $US44.3 million.
Principal New Zealand exports are dairy products and timber, while Vietnamese exports include shoes, garments, ceramics and furniture.
ABC Radio Australia News - October 16, 2003.
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