(VNF) - A get-together was held by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the municipal chapter of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association on February 6^th to celebrate the 230^th Australia Day (January 26^th, 1788-2018) and 45 years of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations (February 26^th, 1973-2018).

HUFO Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Manh at the get-together to mark 45 years of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations. (Photo: VNA)

Congratulating Australia on its national day, Nguyen Van Manh, HUFO Vice Chairman, said that the country has confirmed its position in the international arena thanks to its impressive development illustrated through high income per capita, modern infrastructure and advanced education system.

He noted that since Vietnam and Australia established their diplomatic ties 45 years ago and especially the comprehensive partnership relations in 2009, both sides have spared no efforts to strengthen relations in various fields, including politics, economy, security, and innovation.

They are cooperating in the fields of Australia’s strengths and Vietnam’s interests like development aid, education-training, infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, he said, highlighting that the Australian people in Vietnam have made significant contributions to developing multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

He added that Vietnam and Australia have organised numerous activities to celebrate the 45^th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2018, including mutual visits by their high-ranking leaders.

In November 2017, Prime Ministers Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Malcolm Turnbull agreed to lift bilateral ties to a strategic partnership which will help the countries strengthen cooperation across defence, trade, investment, development cooperation, education, labour, tourism, law, finance, information, and communications.

The two nations are enjoying sound bilateral trade with average annual growth standing at 12.5 per cent and trade value hitting over USD 9 billion in 2017. Australia has landed 378 projects valued at USD 1.7 billion in Vietnam, focusing on industry and construction, services, education, processing industry and agro-forestry-fisheries sector, Manh said.

Delegates pose for a group photo at the event. (Photo: VOH)

For her part, Karen Lanyon, Australian Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City affirmed that Vietnam is one of the most important partners of Australia in Asia-Pacific. Their long-standing history of the successful trade and cooperation will help both sides create more trade opportunities in the coming time, she added.

The bilateral ties have been consolidated thanks to increasing number of tourists travelling between the two countries, she said, citing over 320,000 Australian arrivals to Vietnam in 2017.

Praising the Vietnamese community in Australia, she said they play an important role in fostering bilateral relations./.

VNF