Viet Nam, Australia to discuss lifting ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

The agreement was reached by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Governor-General of Australia General David Hurley during their summit meeting in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The pair said the two sides should maintain trust; consolidate friendship, mutual understanding and respect through delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels; step up friendship exchanges between social circles of the two countries, especially friendship associations, parliamentary friendship groups, and associations of the youth, students, and women; coordinate to organise meaningful activities in both countries to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations to boost public awareness of the bilateral friendship and cooperation; and foster the effective implementation of the signed agreements.

President Vo asked both sides, on the basis of the Viet Nam - Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES), to bolster bilateral trade and investment via effective measures, including considering the facilitation of each other's strong exports. This is along with issuing policies to encourage firms to intensify investment in each other's markets, and encouraging Australian enterprises to invest in fields such as energy, infrastructure, mining, telecoms, finance - banking, hi-tech agriculture, and education in Viet Nam.

Vo described co-operation in UN peacekeeping operations as a highlight in the countries' relations and called on the Australian to continue working closely with the nation in fighting transnational crimes, managing exit and entry procedures, preventing illegal migration, and controlling and handling of terrorist individuals and organisations that may use its territory to conduct sabotage activities against Viet Nam.

Governor-General Hurley agreed on the need to pay more attention to cultural, sports, and people-to-people exchanges.

He recommended the two sides soon finalise procedures for implementing the memorandum of understanding on the Australian Agriculture Visa Program so that Vietnamese citizens can work in agriculture in Australia, create conditions for Vietnamese students to study in his country, encourage more Australians to go travel and study in Viet Nam under the Working Holiday Maker Program and the New Colombo Plan, boost post-pandemic tourism promotion activities, and strengthen locality-to-locality links.

Concerning regional and international issues, President Thuong applauded Australia's high priority given to relations with Southeast Asia and Viet Nam, as well as the promotion of ties with ASEAN.

The two leaders agreed that both nations continue to increase consultation and close co-ordination at regional and international forums, particularly the UN, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

They reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, security, and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, as well as co-operation with other countries to build a region of stability and prosperity, as well as the respect for national sovereignty and law.

Earlier the same day, Governor-General Hurley and the high-ranking delegation of Australia paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the late Vietnamese leader's mausoleum. At the site they also laid wreaths at the monument to heroes and martyrs in Ha Noi.

Viet Nam and Australia  established diplomatic ties on February 26, 1973, with this developing into a comprehensive partnership in 2009, before strengthening to a comprehensive partnership in 2015 and later strategic partnership in 2018./.