Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (R) receives Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie on November 22 (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime MinisterTrinh Dinh Dung met with Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie onNovember 22, asking the diplomat to further promote the two countries’exchanges, especially economic and trade cooperation.
At the meeting in Hanoi, Deputy PM Dung said theVietnam-Australia strategic partnership is flourishing, affirming that Vietnamtreasures this partnership and considers it a priority in its foreign policy.
Bilateral trade reached 7.7 billion USD in 2018,up 19.3 percent from 2017, with nearly 4 billion USD in exports and over 3.7billion USD in imports by Vietnam. Australia now has 425 investment projectsworth over 1.84 billion USD in the Southeast Asian nation, ranking 19th amongthe 128 foreign investors here. Meanwhile, Vietnam has poured 255.8 million USDinto 47 projects in Australia, according to him.
The official appreciated Australia’snon-refundable official development assistance for various essentialinfrastructure projects in Vietnam, many of which have become symbols ofbilateral cooperation like Cao Lanh and My Thuan bridges.
Believing that there remains much room forinvestment ties, the Deputy PM suggested Australian businesses invest in thefields Vietnam has demand in like agriculture, supporting industries, tourismand renewable energy.
He also asked the ambassador to further promotemutual visits and exchanges between senior leaders, localities and businessesof both sides, especially economic and trade partnerships.
The countries should strive to raise their tradeto 10 billion USD in 2020 and become one of the top 10 trading partners of eachother, Dung added.
At the meeting, the official also thankedAustralia for consistently supporting Vietnam at international forums, expressinghis hope for Australia’s close coordination when Vietnam acts as anon-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 andASEAN Chair in 2020.
For her part, Mudie expressed her honour toserve as ambassador amid the thriving bilateral relations.
She noted many Australian investors areimpressed with the investment and business facilitation policies implemented bythe Vietnamese Government, and this condition will encourage both sides’enterprises to expand investment and business activities in each other’smarkets./.
VNA
