Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at the meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 12. (Photo: VNA)Affirming that Australia is a leadingstrategic partner of Vietnam in the region, PM Chinh thanked the AustralianGovernment for increasing official development assistance to Vietnam by 18% in the 2022 - 2023 fiscal year, describing this as practical assistance. He also highly appreciated Australia’s donation of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM Albanese said Australia attaches great importance to the reinforcement of its ties with Vietnam, especially ineconomy, education - training, climate change response, energy, agriculture,manufacturing industry, healthcare services, and defence.
To develop the relations in an intensive and practical manner,PM Chinh suggested the two sides increase all-level mutual visits, firstly preparing carefully for the upcoming official trip to Australia by Vietnam’s National Assembly ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue; continue to effectively carry out the Enhanced Economic EngagementStrategy to further open their markets to each other’s exports, especially farmproduce; bolster coordination in the fight against illegal, unreported andunregulated (IUU) fishing; increase sharing experience in macro-economicgovernance; intensify security and defence ties; and step up initiatives onenergy transition, digital transformation, climate change response, andeducational cooperation.
He also proposed Australia assistVietnamese people living in the country so as to help strengthen the bilateralfriendship and cooperation.
On this occasion, PM Chinh invitedhis Australian counterpart to visit Vietnam at a suitable point of time in 2023,when the two countries mark the 50th founding anniversary of their diplomaticties (February 26, 1973 - 2023)./.
VNA
