Prime Minister arrives in Melbourne for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

Prime Minister Pham is accompanied by Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Hong, Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Affairs Truong Quang Hoai Nam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam, Ambassasor, and Head of the Viet Nam Delegation to ASEAN Nguyen Hai Bang.

This is the second time Australia has hosted ASEAN leaders, with the first ASEAN-Australia Special Summit taking place in 2018.

This year's special summit will center around four key areas of focus: Business, Emerging Leaders, Climate and Clean Energy, and Maritime Cooperation, said Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Andrew Goledzinowski.

Partnership with ASEAN is central to Australia's engagement with the diverse and vibrant Southeast Asia region. ASEAN Member States and Austrlia are deeply connected through their economies; their shared interest in a region that is stable, peaceful and prosperous; and their deep people-to people connections.

ASEAN provides the fabric that binds boht sides' shared region together while Australia is a steadfast supporter of ASEAN centrality and the regional architecture it leads.

Following the Summit in Melbourne, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will travel to Canberra as a guest of the Australian Government. /.