Rugby among Key priorities in Hanoi

John Key lays a wreath at the heroes monument. Photo / NZPA

Prime Minister John Key arrived in Vietnam at the weekend with two priorities - diplomatic relations and getting to his hotel without anyone telling him the All Blacks v South Africa rugby result before he watched a recording.

Mr Key is in Vietnam on a trip to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Arriving in Hanoi to a red carpet reception, he forbade anyone from discussing the test.

An official from the New Zealand Embassy in Hanoi had taped the game and Mr Key and his delegation filled a sports bar on arrival at their hotel to watch the All Blacks win 32-12.

Yesterday, he visited the mausoleum of former president Ho Chi Minh, attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs and lunched with Vice-President Nguyen Thi Dzoan.

A formal banquet was to be held last night to mark the 35th anniversary of New Zealand's diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

New Zealand's two-way trade with Vietnam is worth about $500 million a year; exports to Vietnam totalling about $315 million, 40 per cent of which is dairy products. New Zealand mainly imports wood, furniture and clothing.

Mr Key said he was looking to build on that economic relationship.

NZ essentially has free trade agreement with Vietnam through the Asean-New Zealand-Australia agreement of which both are parties.

Vietnam is also involved in Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations.

"This is a big population, 86 million people, they're buying increasing amounts of our dairy products and we see quite an opportunity here," Mr Key said.

Vietnam and NZ worked together in the areas of tourism, education and science, he said. They were also working on an agreement to recognise the tax paid in each other's country.

Vietnam was well-placed strategically, Mr Key said, but his Government was aware of human rights issues.

"I don't think we're going to make progress lecturing people but we can certainly make progress having a discussion and dialogue with them, pointing out the expectations of the developed world when it comes to human rights," he said.

Mr Key will fly from Vietnam today after a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and a courtesy call on President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Vietnam

* Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

* Population: 86.1 million.

* Capital city: Hanoi.

* Politics: One-party state. The Communist Party appoints the national government.

* Religion: 80-85 per cent Buddhist.

* Annual trade with New Zealand: NZ exports $315 million, NZ imports $153 million.

* Geography: The easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Bordered by China, Laos and Cambodia.

- NZPA

* Kate Chapman travelled to Vietnam with the help of funding from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.