Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne witness MoU signing (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Australian counterpart MarisePayne co-chaired the annual third Vietnam – Australia Foreign Ministers’Meeting in Hanoi on November 9.
Both sides shared the view that the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, which was adopted by the two PMs on the sidelines of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-26), plays an important role inrealising the goal of turning both nations into one of the top 10 trade partnersof each other and doubling two-way trade.
Australia willenhance investment and assist Vietnam in innovation, green and sustainablegrowth, and hi-tech agriculture while maintaining official development assistance for the Southeast Asian nation.
On labourcollaboration, Australia will consider applying “agriculture passport” forVietnamese workers.
They also pledgedto reinforce defence ties and activities in the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
About education-training, Payneaffirmed that Australia will offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students,and consider allowing fully vaccinated Vietnamese students to return toAustralia for study.
As regards to joint work againstCOVID-19 pandemic, she said the Australian Government committed 5.2 millionvaccine doses to Vietnam and additional 2.6 million on the occasion, bringingthe total to 7.8 million. She added that Australia will deliver 700,000 dosesto Vietnam in coming weeks.
On regional and global issues ofshared concern, Payne affirmed that Vietnam will continue stepping upcollaboration for the sustainable development ot the Greater Mekong Sub-region,especially in climate change response.
She expressed support for Vietnam’sorganisation of the ASEAN Forum on Sub-regional Cooperation for sustainabledevelopment and inclusive growth later this month.
Sharing viewpoints and stances onthe East Sea issue, the two ministers stated that disputes need to be addressedpeacefully on the basis of respect for international law, especially the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On the occasion, they witnessedthe signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the twoforeign ministries, and a ceremony to present awards to four Vietnamese firms in a greengrowth business partnership programme launched by the Australian Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade./.
