Australia Looks Forward to Deepening Bilateral Relations with Vietnam

Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong affirmed that Australia looks forward to deepening its bilateral relationship with Vietnam.

Wong shared on her Facebook page, saying "It's been a productive visit to Hanoi. The partnership between Australia and Vietnam is grounded in trust. Vietnam understands and shares our vision for the region. It's exciting to see the many areas where we can partner together to forge even deeper ties."

Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong. Source: Australia's embassy in Hanoi

According to the Australian Foreign Minister, her discussion with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son was warm and wide-ranging. "We share a clear vision for the way our two countries can work together to elevate our ties," she wrote.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Son and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong held talks on June 27 as part of the latter’s official visit to Vietnam from June 26-28, VNA reported.

Welcoming his guest’s decision to choose Vietnam as the first destination to visit after taking office and praising Australia’s recent achievements serving its post-pandemic recovery, Son said he believes Wong’s trip will contribute to creating new dynamics in promoting the countries’ strategic partnership towards the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023.

The minister thanked Australia for its prompt provision of vaccine and medical equipment and supplies for Vietnam during the fight against Covid-19, particularly 14.4 million doses for local children.

Wong affirmed that Australia always attaches great importance to Vietnam's role in the region and its new Government will continue strengthening the nations’ strategic partnership.

As Vietnam and Australia have fully reopened, the ministers highlighted a need for increased collaboration in tourism, education, investment, trade, security, and defence, among other sectors. The engagements should also cover the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, they said.

They agreed to step up efforts in climate change and green and sustainable growth in a bid to tackle non-traditional security challenges.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong held talks on June 27. Source: Australia's embassy in Hanoi

Welcoming Australia’s freshly established comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN, Son requested Australia to continue making positive contributions to regional cooperation on the basis of respecting the bloc’s centrality, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Wong stated that Australia values cooperation with ASEAN, upholds its central role, and continues to promote cooperation for the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the Australian minister underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters, and of respecting international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday also received the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The PM lauded the strong growth of the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership. The exchange of high-level delegations and meetings have been held regularly between the countries; bilateral trade hit USD 12.4 billion in 2021; Vietnam began investing directly in Australia; and the two nations approved the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy and a joint statement on commitment to practical climate action, according to the government leader.

He suggested the new Government of Australia continue paying attention to strengthening ties with Vietnam, particularly in the exchange of high-level delegations; implementation of cooperation mechanisms and key pacts signed; and promotion of trade-investment, education-training, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong. Source: Australia's embassy in Hanoi

PM Chinh proposed Australia maintain its official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in agricultural and rural development, poverty eradication, high-quality human resource development, startups and innovation, and strategic infrastructure, especially in the Mekong Delta.

The two nations should study and propose specific concrete cooperation projects in other potential sectors such as climate change response, green growth, digital economy, cybersecurity, and high-tech farming, he said.

For her part, Wong affirmed that Australia highly valued Vietnam's role and position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the region, and the world and is committed to continually strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam to make the bilateral relations more practical and effective towards a new height.

The minister commended Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and said she will work closely with Vietnam in this area.

Wong underscored Australia's appreciation of ASEAN’s centrality and its freshly established comprehensive strategic partnership with the bloc.

Australia will continue giving priority to cooperation with the Mekong sub-region and agreed on the need to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea as well as to respect international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, she said.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong. Source: Australia's embassy in Hanoi

Welcoming Wong’s visit, President Phuc expressed his belief that it will make important contributions to promoting the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia.

The Vietnamese leader proposed both sides continue to maintain sound collaboration in areas of politics, security-defense, trade investment and ODA, and rapidly restore and further step up cooperation in tourism, education-training, people-to-people exchange, and cooperation as both countries have fully reopened their doors.

Wong agreed with President Phuc’s proposal to continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and work in Australia and integrate into the local community, thus making positive contributions to the sound relationship between the two countries.

On the same day, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and Wong jointly pressed the button to inaugurate a portal of the Vietnam-Australia Centre (VAC).

Thang stressed that the establishment of VAC aims to realise the Joint Statement of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in September 2019, and is an important highlight in the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia, as well as a practical activity towards the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The opening of this portal is a necessary initial step for the development of the centre, which is hoped to contribute to improving the capacity of Vietnamese officials and managers to meet the requirements of integration and development of the country, and to strengthening up the sustainable Vietnam-Australia cooperation.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie shares her favourite pho ga with Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and Chef Sam Tran during the minister’s visit to Vietnam. Source: Australia's embassy in Hanoi

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie and Chef Sam Tran also went to eat pho ga in a small Hanoi's eatery.

The Foreign Minister heard from Sam on the history and significance of pho, and how to eat pho in the traditional Hanoian style, and the three shared views on Australia and Vietnam’s strong people-to-people links, according to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

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