Viet Nam and New Zealand upgrade diplomatic ties

New Zealand and Viet Nam signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership late on Wednesday, pledging to boost engagement in areas including defence and education, the said two countries said in a statement. 

The joint statement said Hanoi and Wellington would over the next year develop a joint plan of action focused on strengthening cooperation in areas of political engagement, defence security and oceans, economics trade and investment, climate change, science and technology, education and people-to-people links. 

New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon signed the agreement during a visit to Viet Nam to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.