The Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Australia handed over documents to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Reporter: Last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Vietnam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh just visited Australia. So what does the fact that the leaders of the two countries regularly meet reflect on the present and future of this relationship?

Mr. Pike: Today is a very exciting day for Australia-Vietnam relations as the two Prime Ministers have confirmed the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This reflects a fact that Australia and Vietnam  now have highest level of diplomatic partnership. And both countries only have few comprehensive strategic partners. So it's very important today is a historic day in the Australia Vietnam relationship. 

Reporter: Australian leaders had long expressed their desire to upgrade relations with Vietnam to a new level. Why do you think Australia wants to upgrade relations with Vietnam at this time?

Mr. Pike: It's worth noting that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been made publicly available. So I encourage everyone to have a look and have a read of the ambition in that partnership. And when you do, you'll be able to see that there's expanded cooperation across a range of sectors, including in digital transformation and innovation, in education, in environment, and particularly the inclusion of climate change. I see there's a plan for a new partnership in peacekeeping, which is a really important joint collaboration between Australia and Vietnam to support the region's peace and security. I see there's more ambition across trade and investment including a new partnership in agriculture which will encourage trade in new commodities. Of course, education continues to be critically important, and I'm sure that there'd be a renewed framework for cooperation across Australian and Vietnamese education institutions at all levels including primary, secondary, and tertiary education. And this is really important because education can transform lives.

And lastly, I think it's important to note that with the elevation of the relationship, there will be more, more dialogue and more exchange between both sides. So  there will be new ministerial dialogues across mining, uh, energy, minerals, as well as the existing trade ministers dialogue, which was held this week in Australia. So it's very ambitious, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. And it's a comprehensive reflection of Australia Vietnam relations.

Reporter: While in Australia, Mr. Chinh participated in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. So can you tell us how the relationship with Vietnam contributes to the relationship between Australia and ASEAN?

Mr. Pike: As you know the Prime Minister of Vietnam as well as leaders from across ASEAN have been in Australia this week for the special ASEAN Australia Special Summit. I think one of the very clear messages from that summit is that the region, Australia and ASEAN, share common challenges and common opportunities.

And the topics which the two governments have really chosen to focus on do reflect those common challenges between Australia and Vietnam. Climate, energy, the environment, as well as, of course, the digital transformation in front of us. These are common challenges that we face and for example in education, these are the areas to which we need to focus on the skill gap and transforming workforces,  providing cross cutting, groundbreaking research to respond to these challenges.

Reporter: Thank you so much, Mr. Leighton Pike. 

Mr. Pike:  Thank you.