This is a very special working trip as ASEAN-Australia relations, Vietnam-Australia relations and Vietnam-New Zealand relations are all at the strategic partnership level.
The working trip took place on the special occasion of the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia dialogue partnership; it was the first official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Australia and New Zealand in his new position, and the first visit of a Vietnamese Prime Minister to the two countries in more than 7 years.
The Special Summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations will be held in Melbourne, Australia from 5-6 March 2024 with the participation of the Leaders of ASEAN countries, Australia and the ASEAN Secretary-General. The Prime Minister of Timor Leste was invited to attend this summit as an observer.
The conference, themed “Partnership for the Future”, is being held in the context of dynamic cooperation between ASEAN and Australia in many fields. This is an opportunity for the two sides to review the past 50 years of relations and discuss measures to promote substantive and effective development of relations, in line with the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2021. Within the framework of the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend key meetings and have a number of other important foreign affairs activities.
Australia was one of the first partners to establish dialogue relations with ASEAN in 1974; the two sides upgraded relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2014 and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2021. Australia joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2005.
According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam, as an active and proactive member of ASEAN and one of Australia's important partners in the region, Vietnam will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting ASEAN-Australia relations.
Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in February 1973, then upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in March 2018. In June 2023, Prime Minister Albanese made his first official visit to Vietnam since taking office in May 2022.
Bilateral trade turnover in 2023 will reach 13.8 billion USD. Australia is Vietnam's 7th largest trading partner and Vietnam is Australia's 10th largest partner. Australia has opened its doors to lychee, mango, dragon fruit, longan, and frozen shrimp from Vietnam.
By the end of December 2023, Australia had 621 investment projects with a total capital of more than 2 billion USD, focusing on the fields of processing, manufacturing, accommodation services, healthcare, social assistance, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Vietnam had 92 investment projects in Australia with a total investment capital of 552.7 million USD, mainly in the fields of agriculture, forestry, wholesale and retail, and processing and manufacturing.
Australia is one of the largest bilateral partners providing non-refundable ODA to Vietnam. In the 50 years since establishing diplomatic relations, Australia has provided a total of 3 billion AUD in ODA to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese community in Australia has about 350,000 people, ranking 5th among the ethnic communities of foreign origin in Australia. Currently, there are about 31,000 Vietnamese students and postgraduates studying in Australia (90% are self-funded).
The important documents and agreements reached by the two sides during this visit will bring the Vietnam-Australia relationship to a new height, helping to realize the intention of upgrading bilateral relations to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership previously announced by the leaders of the two countries.
Vietnam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in 1975, established a Comprehensive Partnership in 2009 and upgraded the relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2020.
Vietnam is New Zealand's 14th largest trading partner. Two-way trade turnover has increased steadily, reaching 1.3 billion USD in 2023. As of November 2023, New Zealand has 52 investment projects with a total capital of 208.35 million USD in Vietnam, mainly concentrated in the fields of real estate business, education and training, manufacturing and processing industry, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; administrative activities and support services; construction.
New Zealand provides Vietnam with a stable and increasing source of ODA. New Zealand commits to providing Vietnam with NZD 26.7 million in non-refundable ODA for the period July 1, 2021 - July 30, 2024, focusing on the fields of agriculture, climate change adaptation, education, and COVID-19 pandemic response.
The Vietnamese community in New Zealand has about 11,000 people. The Vietnamese Students Association of New Zealand was established in March 2022, the first national student association and a member of the Vietnam General Association of Students.
This working trip of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is of great significance in affirming Vietnam’s responsibility towards international issues, promoting Vietnam’s position and role in ASEAN, in the ASEAN-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership; at the same time, it is of great significance in consolidating and strengthening the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, and the Vietnam-New Zealand strategic partnership.
The working trip continues to contribute to effectively implementing the foreign policy of the 13th Party Congress, the "bamboo diplomacy" school and identity; Conclusion 59-KL/TW of the Politburo on the orientation of participating in ASEAN until 2030 and Directive 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy until 2030.
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