(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese have pledged to double efforts to elevate ties between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh welcomes PM Anthony Albanese in Hanoi, June 4, 2023. |
During talks in Hanoi on Sunday, the two PMs agreed to promote the exchange of high-level delegations and contacts, effectively implement the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES) in the 2021-2025 period, boost cooperation in economics, investment, national defense, security, education, technology, and labor, among others.
PM Chinh vowed to continue creating favorable conditions for Australian investment in Vietnam, particularly in infrastructure development, telecommunications, finance and banking, education, high-tech agriculture, green transition, and digital transformation.
He asked Australia to facilitate Vietnamese investment in mining, agriculture, e-commerce, aviation and tourism.
Mr. Chinh praised Australia’s decision to increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam by 2.5% in 2023-2024 fiscal year, saying that ODA cooperation should be an important component of a future comprehensive strategic partnership.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh and PM Anthony Albanese hold talks. |
PM Albanese said Australia wants to expand defense and security cooperation with Vietnam.
He noted that Australia will continue ODA cooperation with Vietnam, promote two-way investment, increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, reconsider the 1995 air services agreement to increase the number of flights between the two countries, and enhance cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy and digital transformation.
PM Albanese announced an aid package of 105 million AUD (69.4 million USD) for collaboration with Vietnam in infrastructure, climate change response, and energy transition. He said Australia will put Vietnam at the focus of its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
The two PMs underlined the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), fostering dialogue and enhancing trust, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
 PM Pham Minh Chinh and PM Anthony Albanese co-chair a press conference in Hanoi, June 4, 2023. |
At a press conference after the talks, PM Chinh said the two PMs agreed to raise bilateral trade value to 20 billion USD and strengthen connectivity between the two countries. Australia will continue creating conditions for Vietnamese farm produce to penetrate the Australian market.
On this occasion, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines received a license and announced the launch of the Hanoi-Melbourne route, and Vietjet Air received a license and announced the launch of its service between Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane.
The same day, the two PMs visited the national women’s football teams of Vietnam and Australia.