Strengthening Cooperation Between Vietnam and Victoria, Australia

Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh (right) and Governor Linda Dessau. Photo: VNA

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh paid an official visit to Victoria from February 28 to March 2 at the invitation of Premier Daniel Andrews.

During the visit, Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh paid a visit to Governor Linda Dessau, held talks with Premier Daniel Andrews, and discussed with Minister for Trade Martin Pakula. He chaired a roundtable with Victorian ministries on trade and investment and visited Monash and RMIT universities.

The Victorian leader expressed his delight at the positive development of the friendship between Vietnam and Australia. The Prime Ministers of the two countries approved a strategy to strengthen economic cooperation in November 2021. Additionally, Australia becoming the 10th largest trading partner of Vietnam despite difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

State leaders also recognized the achievements of cooperation between the localities of Vietnam and Victoria in many fields, especially the two-way trade turnover reached AUD 2.75 billion (US$1.9 billion) in 2021, an increase of more than 24% compared to 2020.

Governor Linda Dessau said the good relationship between the two countries is the basis for tightening the long-term cooperation between the state and localities of Vietnam. She supported the two countries' move towards upgrading the strategic partnership on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2023).

Dessau said Victoria is ready to open its doors to Vietnamese localities and businesses to strengthen comprehensive and mutually cooperation.

The state is also ready to organize activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the two countries' relations in Melbourne in 2022 and 2023.

Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh (left) and Premier Daniel Andrews. Photo: VNA

Premier Daniel Andrews welcomed the early opening of Vietnam to foreign tourists and believed that this would facilitate trade, investment and tourism activities.

He appreciated Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements, especially in the past 10 years, and believed that Vietnam would soon become a leading economy in the region.

Premier Andrews talked about Victoria opening a Trade-Investment Office in Ho Chi Minh City from early 2021, the state's first office in the Mekong sub-region. This demonstrates Victoria's strong commitment to partners in Vietnam to carry out the local ASEAN Trade-Investment Strategy.

Andrews expressed his willingness to exchange and sign cooperation agreements with localities in Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang. He also wanted to soon organize a business delegation to visit Vietnam with state leaders to explore business opportunities.

Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh congratulated Governor Linda Dessau and Premier Daniel Andrews on Victoria's outstanding achievements in socio-economic development and Covid-19 control.

He said that the first official visit to Vietnam by the Governor (September 2019) and the Premier (October 10, 2019) has paved the way for cooperation between localities of Vietnam and Victoria in many fields. Victoria has become a model, pioneering the comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Ambassador and Victorian leader shared their assessment of the great opportunities that are opening up for both sides. The opportunity comes when the Covid-19 pandemic is basically well controlled, Australia is open from February 2022 and Vietnam is expected to open from March 2022.

The two sides also agreed to coordinate and organize meaningful activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, contributing to bringing the two countries' relations to a new height.

At meetings with Minister Martin Pakula and representatives of Victorian ministries and sectors, the Ambassador talked about highlights in the regional situation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and bilateral relations.

He talked about the opportunities that are opening up in the post-Covid-19 era that the two countries need to prioritize cooperation. The opportunities are digital transformation, green economy, renewable energy and supply chain security.

Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh hoped that Victoria would soon implement concrete cooperation projects with Vietnam in accordance with the ASEAN Trade-Investment Strategy. He also asked the state to coordinate in building a network of Victorian businesses interested in doing business with localities in Vietnam.

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