Vietnam, Australia bolster ties in key areas: President

As Vietnam and Australia have raised their relationship to the status of strategic partnership, both countries should now step up collaboration in the foundational sectors of economy, trade and investment, security and defence, education and training, and high-tech agriculture, said President Tran Dai Quang.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith. (Photo: VNA)

Hosting the reception for Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith in Hanoi on July 24, President Quang spoke highly of the outcomes achieved during the talks held earlier between Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Smith. He agreed with the content of cooperation between the two countries in general, and their legislative bodies in particular, for the time to come.

He underlined that it is necessary for the two countries to facilitate conditions to enhance people-to-people exchange, and coordination in culture, tourism, and sports.

The State leader spoke highly of the education collaboration between both sides, expressing his hope that the Australian Government would continue its support for Vietnam in developing high-quality human resources.

Vietnam will closely work with Australia to carry out the New Colombo Plan, a 100 million USD initiative to increase the number of Australians studying part of their degree in the region to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Asia, and build people-to-people ties, he noticed.

President Quang expressed his wishes that Australia will continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese people community so that they can contribute to the development in each nation as well as the bilateral ties.

Vietnam, in return, will facilitate Australian citizens’ travel, study and investment in the country, he said.

He showed his appreciation of Australia’s official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, saying that the assistance has made positive contributions to the socio-economic development in the country. Cao Lanh bridge, which was inaugurated last May, is a vivid illustration, he noted.

Also, he applauded the close coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums, particularly the United Nations (U.N.), ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

He thanked Australia for helping Vietnam in successfully organising the APEC Year 2017 and supporting the Southeast Asian nation in its bid to become a non-permanent member of the U.N. for the 2020-2021 tenure.

President Quang also took the occasion to convey his greetings to Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, and many other Australian leaders.

Smith, for his part, lauded the fruitful cooperation between the two states and parliaments in the past time, especially people-to-people exchanges, stressing that visits made by leaders from both sides had consistently aimed at consolidating political trust and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

Vietnam and Australia have enjoyed sound collaboration in trade, and education and training, he said, adding that the Australian House of Representatives will serve as a bridge to enhance the ties.

Many Australian businesses have gained great success in agriculture, and they want to strengthen their cooperation with Vietnamese partners in the time ahead, he stressed.

Tony Smith began is on his three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan./.

VNF/VNA