(VNF) - Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce and had a working session with Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo, in Sydney on July 25^th.

During the meetings, the Australian officials lauded Vietnam’s active role in the Southeast Asian region and affirmed Australia’s priority to enhance their relations with Vietnam. They expressed their wish to bring their ties with Vietnam to new heights.

The two sides shared their delight at the strong growth in the Vietnam-Australia relations, especially since the two countries lifted their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2009 and released a Joint Statement on Enhancing the Comprehensive Partnership in March 2015.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce. (Photo: VGP)

They agreed to deepen the bilateral relationship and work closely in preparation for the visits of the senior leaders of both countries, in late 2017 and early 2018, to mark the 45^th anniversary since the establishment of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations.

Both sides concurred on the measures required to reinforce their comprehensive partnership in politics, economy-trade, agriculture, development assistance, education-training, science-technology-renovation, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

Deputy PM Hue and Deputy PM Banarby Joyce, who is Acting Prime Minister, alongside other Australian officials, affirmed their determination to beef up bilateral economic, trade and investment and increase two-way trade from the current USD 5 billion per year, while increasing investments in promising areas such as agriculture, education, infrastructure, and creative technology.

The two countries will work together for the establishment of a dialogue mechanism at ministerial level in economy-trade, aiming towards setting up an economic partnership in the future.

The two sides agreed to coordinate in gradually removing any obstacles hindering the trade of agricultural and aquatic products, promoting business connectivity and the formation of a production-supply chain and increasing added value for farm produces.

Both Banarby Joyce and Steven Ciobo said that Australia will affiliate closely with their Vietnamese partners to support the import of qualified fruits and fresh shrimp to Australia.

Australia will also continue providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in areas of climate change response, human resources development, private sector capacity enhancement and gender equality.

Deputy PM Hue stated that Vietnam will use the Australian ODA in an effective manner in order to fulfill its goals in poverty reduction and improving the livelihoods of locals in mountainous and rural areas.

The two sides also shared many common views on regional and international matters and agreed to continue coordinating closely and supporting each other at multilateral forums, especially the ASEAN.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) had a working session with Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop.

Amidst significant changes in geopolitics and the economy within the region, Australia affirmed its comprehensive support and active assistance for the ASEAN to fulfill its targets in building the ASEAN Community, strengthening connectivity, narrowing down the development gap, reinforcing intra-bloc solidarity and promoting its central role in dealing with strategic matters in the region.

The two sides also underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, aviation and maritime security, safety and freedom in the region, as well as the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. They highlighted the significance of respecting diplomatic and legal processes, exercising self-restraint, not taking unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and disputes, as well as strictly implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and striving for the early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese and Australian officials stressed the need to enhance cooperation to seek suitable directions for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and accelerate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Also on July 25^th, before concluding his three-day visit to Australia, Deputy PM Hue visited the Innovation Xchange run by the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is an initiative of Minister Julie Bishop to enhance the efficiency of development support projects and programmes, which Australia operates in the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions.

Earlier, on July 24^th, Deputy PM Hue held working sessions with a number of Australian officials including Treasurer Scott Morrison and the New South Wales Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton, to seek measures to further foster the partnership between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (L) shakes hands with Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison on July 24^th. (Photo: VNA)

Also on same day , Deputy PM Hue attended the Vietnam-Australia Business Dialogue, which drew 150 delegates from leading Vietnamese and Australian firms in perse areas such as rice production and import, seafood, banking, urban planning, IT, mining and logistics.

At the event, many enterprises showed an interest in investing in Vietnam, especially in rice development, aquatic farming and breweries. They also asked for the Vietnamese Government’s support during their investment./.

VNF