WELLINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Defense Minister Phil Goff announced Friday that New Zealand and Vietnam will look at further developing their defense relationship.

    According to a government press release, the announcement followed Goff's meeting with Vietnamese Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Phung Quang Thanh in Hanoi.

    Goff became the first New Zealand Defense Minister to meet his Vietnamese counterpart.

    "New Zealand and Vietnam will hold formal bilateral defense talks in 2007 and a visit to New Zealand is planned for next year by Vice Defense Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu," said Goff.

    He said the talks and the Vice Minister's visit will enable the two countries to identify areas of mutual interest where both parties can benefit from enhanced cooperation and begin working together.

    "We will also discuss the possibilities of initiating some limited training activities with Vietnam under the auspices of the mutual assistance program which could cover areas such as leadership development and professional training," said Goff.

    There have been visits to Vietnam in 2004 and 2006 by ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Chief of Army visited his Vietnamese counterpart in 2004 and the New Zealand Defense Force Command and Staff College visited Vietnam as part of its 2005 study tour.

    In May 2005, New Zealand Prime Minister Clark and her Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai signed a joint declaration of cooperation that established a framework for developing bilateral relationships in a number of areas.