Foreign Minister meets Indian, Australian counterparts in Indonesia

At the meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Bui spoke highly of India's support for the solidarity and centrality of ASEAN. 

He took the occasion to propose the two nations consider negotiating a bilateral trade and economic agreement. 

He suggested India encourage its business giants to expand investment in Viet Nam, particularly in high-quality infrastructure development, petrol and renewable energy. 

Both sides hailed strong development in the traditional friendship and Comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly in economy and trade. 

Both sides pledged to join hands in promoting high-level exchanges and actively implementing current mechanisms such as the Viet Nam-India Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

To further foster economic and trade cooperation, they agreed to work closely with ASEAN Member States to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

During his meeting with Australian counterpart Penny Wong, both sides expressed their satisfaction at the positive achievements in the bilateral relationship. 

Bui thanked the Australian Government for increasing the official development assistance for Viet Nam to AUD95.1 million for the fiscal year 2023-2024. 

Penny Wong, for her part, pledged to step up the implementation of cooperation projects, including enhancing capacity building for Viet Nam's foreign affairs officials. 

Regarding international and regional issues of common concerns, she reiterated that Australia backs the solidarity and centrality of ASEAN for peace in the region as well as the principled stance of ASEAN on the East Sea issue./.