Hosting the ceremony were Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga - President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), along with Prof. Dr. Tran Van Nhung - Chairman of the Vietnam - Australia Friendship Association and representatives representative of the Asia-Africa Division.

On the Australian side, there were Australian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam Robyn Mudie and officials of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.

VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga (R) presents the “For peace and friendship among nations” insignia to outgoing Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie. Photo: VNT

VUFO President, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga presented the medal "For peace and friendship among nations", the highest VUFO award for Ms. Robyn Mudie, to honor the Ambassador's active and tireless contributions to promoting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga said that Ambassador Robyn Mudie is a close friend of Vietnam. Mudie is among a few diplomats who were very fluent in Vietnamese. During the last 3 years, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Mudie played a pivotal role in promoting the strong development of all-round relations between Vietnam and Australia.

The two sides had hold many visits, contacts and phone calls/conferences. Many high-level agreements between the two sides have been signed and implemented such as the Action Program to implement the Vietnam - Australia Strategic Partnership for the period 2020-2023, and the Strategy to strengthen economic cooperation between Vietnam and Australias despite difficulties caused by the pandemic.

Bilateral economic cooperation has witnessed spectacular breakthroughs. Bilateral trade turnover has grown strongly, reaching 12.4 billion USD in 2021. By the end of December 2021, Australia has 550 investment projects with a total investment of nearly 2 billion USD, ranking 19th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Australia is one of the largest bilateral partners providing ODA to Vietnam (AUD 78.9 million for Vietnam in 2021-2022).

In particular, Ambassador Robyn Mudie has made a very important contribution to promoting cooperation in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic between the two countries. Australia has now shared more than 22.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with Vietnam, including 14.4 million doses it recently provided to support its children's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Vietnam. In addition, it is worth emphasizing the important contribution of Ambassador Robyn Mudie to the effective cooperation between the two countries in enhancing Vietnam's participation in the United Nations peacekeeping force. gender equality and women's empowerment.

"We appreciate you contributions to Vietnam's development and Vietnam-Australia relations. Thank you for your love and sincerity towards Vietnam and the valuable cooperation you showed to VUFO", VUFO president Nguyen Phuong Nga said to Ambassador Mudie.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga also hoped that in the future, regardless of her position, Mudie would continue to have important contributions to consolidating and developing the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Australian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam Robyn Mudie expressed her honor to receive the noble award from Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, affirming that VUFO plays an important role in strengthening bilateral relations between Vietnam and other countries.

The delegation from Vietnam and Australia at the ceremony. Photo: VNT

Delighted to play a small role in developing the good friendship between the two countries Vietnam - Australia, Ambassador Robyn Mudie thanked Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga for the love that the people and country of Vietnam have shown her throughout her tenure in Vietnam, she hopes that the Vietnam-Australia relations will continue to develop better in the future.

"I would like to say that Vietnam always has a special place in my heart and although Australia is my homeland, Vietnam is my second home," said Ambassador Robyn Mudie.

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