At the event (Source: VOV)HCM City (VNA) – A get-together washeld in Ho Chi Minh City on January 22 by the HCM City Union of FriendshipOrganisations (HUFO) to celebrate the 231st anniversary of Australia Day(January 26, showing the friendship and solidarity between the city’s peopleand their Australian counterparts.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association(VAFA) of HCM City Luong Van Ly stressed that cooperation between the twonations has been on the basis of mutual benefit and respect towardsdevelopment, peace, and prosperity.
Since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in September 2009, thebilateral relations have been strengthened and developed across a range of fieldsin a practical and rapid manner.
Vietnam-Australia relations were officially upgraded to a Strategic Partnershipin March 2018, laying the foundation for the two sides to enhance mutual trustand understanding, thus deepening bilateral ties and contributing to peace,stability, and prosperity in the region.
Ly said the two countries boast great potential to further expand theirrelations in the coming time.
The VAFA hopes to cooperate with the Australian Consulate General, Australian BusinessGroup, friendship and non-governmental organisations of Australia, and the Australiancommunity in order to promote people-to-people exchange and cultural-sports-tourismcollaboration, as well as to tighten the solidarity and friendship between thecity’s residents and their Australian people, he said.
Australian Consul General in HCM City Julianne Cowley highlighted the significanceof the get-together, saying that it shows the increasing development ofrelations and closer cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in general andHCM City in particular.
Australia wants to promote multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially ineducation-training, infrastructure development, and agriculture, which areareas that Australia has strengths in and Vietnam holds demand for.
She expressed her hope that the HUFO and VAFA will enhance their cooperation andsupport the Consulate General in organising activities to boost mutualunderstanding and friendship between the two countries, thus bringing benefitsto their people.
Statistics show that two-way trade between Vietnam and Australia has recordedthe annual growth of 7 percent in recent years. Australia is a major providerof official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in reforming the economy,improving competitiveness, and promoting gender equality.–VNA
VNA
