50 years of Vietnam - Australia relations: Towards a new stature

Over time, Vietnam and Australia have grown closer as we enter the next chapter in our bilateral relationship. We have great momentum to strengthen and build on our strong history of friendship, honesty and trust.

Photo caption — Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh speaks at the event. Thanh Tu - VNA reporter in Australia

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Australia, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. To celebrate this important milestone as well as honor the increasingly strong strategic partnership between the two countries, on April 28, in Melbourne, RMIT University coordinated with the Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Victoria, the Asia Society Research Institute in Australia, and the Vietnam-Australia Policy Institute to organize a special event to look back on the past 50 years of history, and at the same time seek opportunities and development trends for the Vietnam-Australia relationship in the future. Attending the event were Senator, Co-Minister for Trade and Manufacturing Tim Ayres; many senior officials of the Victorian government; Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh; Professor Alec Cameron - President of RMIT University; and about 60 business leaders of the two countries. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Senator and Co-Minister Tim Ayres emphasized that the Australia-Vietnam relationship is increasingly strengthened as the two countries have many things in common, especially the shared commitment to building a stable, peaceful, self-reliant and prosperous world, especially in Southeast Asia - which is considered a top priority of the Australian Government. Mr. Tim Ayres affirmed that these common points are "fertile ground" for cooperation between the two countries. Taking concrete and tangible actions together will help the two countries seize opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, etc. These are very positive factors in the bilateral relationship. In addition, Co-Minister Tim Ayres acknowledged that 350,000 Australians of Vietnamese origin have contributed to creating a rich and colorful picture of a multicultural and modern Australia. Looking back at the relationship between the two countries, in his speech, Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh noted that many events have taken place over the past five decades of bilateral relations to elevate the two countries from friendship to partnership. The Ambassador recalled that in the late 1980s, when Vietnam first opened its doors to foreign investment, Australia was one of the top five investors in Vietnam. By 1990, Australia had invested a total of AUD 300 million (nearly USD 200 million) in Vietnam and by 2018, this figure had increased to AUD 2 billion. Over time, Vietnam and Australia have grown closer as the two countries enter the next chapter in the history of bilateral relations. Both countries have great motivation to promote and build on a strong history of friendship, sincerity and trust. In 2022, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue expressed their desire to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh emphasized that Vietnam and Australia have actively promoted mutual visits. Most recently, there was a state visit by Australian Governor-General David Hurley and his wife to Vietnam (March 3-6), followed by the Vietnam-Australia Trade Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi (April 17). With all that has happened over the past time, Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh affirmed that the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam has achieved great results in all socio -economic fields. Bilateral trade has grown spectacularly, increasing by 20% per year in the 2018-2022 period, reaching a record of 23.5 billion AUD in 2022, making Australia the 7th largest trading partner of Vietnam and for the first time Vietnam the 10th largest trading partner of Australia.

It can be said that the relationship and connection between the two peoples have also been strengthened through the large number of Vietnamese Australians - who continue to play an important role in promoting friendship and understanding between the people of Vietnam and Australia. Australia has also emerged as one of the leading overseaseducation markets for Vietnamese students. Over the past 22 years, RMIT University in Vietnam - as the first and largest foreign-owned university in the Southeast Asian country - has continued to support the Vietnamese Government in its skills and workforce needs as Vietnam strives to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2045. Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh shared that Vietnam's focus in 2023 and beyond is to pursue peaceful foreign policies with priorities for its closest neighbours, including the Mekong region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with Australia as a key partner. Vietnam firmly believes that together with Australia, the two countries can contribute even more to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. Excited and proud of the strong changes in the Vietnam - Australia bilateral relationship, Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh affirmed that Vietnam always wants to become a better partner of Australia, and expressed his belief that Australia also shares the same desire. Commenting on the development of the Vietnam - Australia relationship over the past 50 years and prospects in the coming time, most delegates attending the event agreed that Vietnam and Australia are standing at a new threshold of cooperation and upgrading bilateral relations, creating a premise for strengthening trust as well as joint efforts to bring great benefits to the people of the two countries, contributing to the stability, peace and prosperity of the region as well as the whole world.

Thanh Tu - Van Linh - Le Dat (Vietnam News Agency)