Australia and Vietnam to strengthen relationship

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue today met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his on-going visit to the country as a guest of the Australian Parliament.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during their meeting in Australia on November 30. (Photo: VNA)

The two officials discussed the vibrant trade, investment, education and defence links between Australia and Vietnam, underpinned by the Strategic Partnership and strong people to people links, ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. Australia and Vietnam share a commitment to a peaceful and prosperous region and an ambition to boost trade and investment, including to create jobs in both countries and drive the clean energy transformation.

They also discussed international issues and reiterated their commitment to ASEAN centrality and a region which is peaceful, prosperous, stable and in which sovereignty is respected. They reaffirmed that disputes, including those in the South China Sea, should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight. They maintained the call that any Code of Conduct for the South China Sea should not prejudice the rights of all states under international law, particularly UNCLOS.

They announced Australia and Vietnam’s shared intention to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This announcement reflects the high level of mutual strategic trust and ambition in the relationship and will place Australia in the top tier of Vietnam’s closest partners. It demonstrates a further deepening of Australia’s relationship with Southeast Asia.

Speaking at the meeting, Australian Prime Minister Albanese stressed that Australia and Vietnam share close bonds and a vision for a stable, peaceful, resilient and prosperous region.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his delight at visiting Australia for the first time in his capacity as the top Vietnamese legislator. He congratulated the important achievements that Albanese’s Government has made over the past six months, especially in economic development, social security and climate change response, affirming Australia’s reputation and role in the international arena.

The Vietnamese leader also thanked the Australian Government for supporting Vietnamese citizens, especially during the pandemic, and expressed his wish that it would continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to contribute to the development of Australia and the relationship between the two countries.

During his visit, NA chairman Hue will also meet with the Australian Governor General, Parliament’s Presiding Officers, senior Federal Government ministers, and the Leader of the Opposition. In Melbourne, President Hue will promote the impressive education linkages between the two countries and strengthen business engagement.