Prime Minister hosts Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

Pham hailed the effective cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in promoting the Viet Nam–Australia relations, expressing satisfaction with the fruitful development of the Viet Nam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all fields.

Two-way trade has maintained stable growth momentum, reaching more than US$14 billion in 2024, he noted, adding that both sides have also actively opened up their markets to each other's agricultural products, with Viet Nam's passion fruit exported to Australia for the first time and Australian plums now available in the Vietnamese market.

The Government leader highlighted that Australia has poured more US$3 billion in foreign investment in Viet Nam, welcoming Australia's increase of official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam to AUD 96.6 million.

Pham suggested the two nations continue to effectively implement the action program for the comprehensive strategic partnership and regularly organize dialogue and consultation mechanisms to further enhance mutual understanding and strengthen political trust.

He emphasized the need to actively exchange measures to boost the two-way trade to US$ 20 billion, particularly through opening markets and facilitating the export of each other's goods.

The Prime Minister called on the two sides to expand defense and security cooperation, especially in areas such as cybersecurity, digital transformation, and equipment support to help Viet nNam enhance its capacity.

Pham shared Viet Nam's vision and strategy to advance science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, expressing his wish for breakthroughs in cooperation in these fields, particularly in training human resources and developing biomedical technology.

Wong, for her part, expressed her honor to visit Viet Nam on the occasion of the country's 80th anniversary of the National Day, affirming that the Australian Government highly values Viet Nam's role in the region as well as Viet Nam–Australia relations.

Pham held that the two countries share many common views and visions on bilateral, regional, and international issues, serving as a foundation to further enhance cooperation and mutual support.

Wong affirmed that she would double efforts to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, including further deepening defense and security ties and expanding collaboration in science and technology, digital transformation and innovation, education and training, and human resource development through ODA projects and investment funds.

She also pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and respect for international law in the region.

The diplomat stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and upholding international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)./.