Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (Source: VNA)Praising Australia’s successes in the federal election, COVID-19 vaccination and economic recovery, PM Chinh thanked thenation’s provision of COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment and supplies for Vietnam during thefight against the pandemic, particularly 14.4 million doses of vaccine forVietnamese children.
The PM also lauded the strong growth of theVietnam-Australia strategic partnership. The exchange of high-level delegations and meetings have been held regularly between the countries; bilateral trade hit 12.4 billionUSD in 2021; Vietnam began investing directly in Australia; and the two nationsapproved the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy and a jointstatement on commitment to practical climate action, according to the government leader.
He suggested the new Government of Australia continue paying attention to strengthening ties with Vietnam, particularly inthe exchange of high-level delegations; implementation of cooperation mechanismsand key pacts signed; and promotion of trade-investment, education-training,culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.
PM Chinh proposed Australia maintain its officialdevelopment assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in agricultural and rural development, povertyeradication, high-quality human resource development, startups and innovation, and strategicinfrastructure, especially in the Mekong Delta.
The two nations should study and propose specific concrete cooperation projects in other potential sectors such as climate change response, greengrowth, digital economy, cybersecurity, and high-tech farming, he said.
For her part, Wong affirmed that Australia highly valued Vietnam's role and position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the region and the world and is committedto continue strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam to make the bilateral relations more practical and effective towards a new height.
The minister commended Vietnam’s commitment toachieving net zero emissions by 2050 and said she will work closely withVietnam in this area.
Wong underscored Australia's appreciation of ASEAN’s centrality and its freshly established comprehensive strategicpartnership with the bloc.
Australia will continue giving priority to cooperation with theMekong sub-region and agreed on the need to maintain peace, stability,security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea aswell as to respect international law, including the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), she said.
On this occasion, PM Chinh asked the minister to convey his invitation to Australian PM Anthony Albanese to pay an official visit to Vietnam at anappropriate time./.
VNA
