Australia commits to sharing 7.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses with Viet Nam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) hosts reception for visiting Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Government Office, Ha Noi, November 11, 2021. Photo: VGP

Pham expressed his wish that Australia would continue assisting Viet Nam in fighting COVID-19, rebooting economic recovery, strengthening health preparedness capacity to deal with future pandemics, and adapting to climate change.

He spoke highly of the fine development of the Viet Nam-Australia relations, especially the two-way trade rose by 50 percent on year to US$9.1 billion in the first nine months this year.

For her part, Payne affirmed Australia gives priority to cooperation with Viet Nam in such fields like infrastructure development, agriculture, poverty reduction, and climate change adaptation.

She said her country highly values Viet Nam’s position on the East Sea and support peaceful settlement of international disputes on the basis of abiding by the principles of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Payne also announced that Australia will share additional 2.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses with Viet Nam, bringing the total doses offered by Australia to 7.8 million.

She highly valued Viet Nam’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26).

The two sides agreed to continue delegation exchange and contacts at all levels while effectively implementing the Viet Nam-Australia action plan for the 2020-2023 period and the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES) in a bid to soon double the trade value.

The two sides also agreed to step up cooperation in utilizing opportunities to promote digital transformation, innovation, economic restructuring, and green growth.

PM Pham suggested both countries continue supporting each other over issues related to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world./.

By Thuy Dung