The luggage of the new Australian Ambassador to Vietnam: 'Capital', passion and attraction

President Luong Cuong received Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird who presented her credentials on April 24. (Source: VNA)

During our meeting with the new Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Gillian Bird, just one month after she began her term, we were impressed by the depth of experience of the diplomat from the land of kangaroos, spanning from multilateral to bilateral fields.

Notably, Ambassador Gillian Bird showed strong enthusiasm in applying her rich diplomatic experience to contribute to the development of the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is currently at its best stage.

Ambassador Gillian Bird has served as Australia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2004-2014); Australia’s first Ambassador to ASEAN (2008-2013); Australia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2015-2019); and Australia’s Ambassador to France (2020-2024). Ambassador Gillian Bird was awarded the Order of Merit in 2012 for her outstanding public service in international relations.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird shared with the press on the morning of May 22. (Photo: Pham Hang)

Top priority in foreign relations

"Each of my diplomatic positions has given me great experiences. I am truly fortunate to be in Vietnam at a time when relations between the two countries have never been stronger than they are today. The establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is an important milestone, demonstrating that both Vietnam and Australia place each other at the top of their foreign relations priorities," Ambassador Gillian Bird emphasized.

According to Ambassador Gillian Bird, the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Australia includes many important pillars of cooperation, notably in the fields of climate change, environment and energy, digital transformation and innovation - top priorities in Vietnam's current development strategy.

In addition, the two countries continue to strengthen traditional areas of cooperation such as defense, security, economy and education – one of the most sustainable pillars of bilateral relations.

Ambassador Gillian Bird said that the core of the relationship lies in the strong connection between the two peoples. This connection has created three major pillars of bilateral cooperation: Development and education cooperation; economic relations and defense-security.

"We are committed to supporting Vietnam's continued development and prosperity, because Vietnam's prosperity and stability also contribute to Australia's prosperity and stability," Ambassador Gillian Bird affirmed that this is the guiding principle throughout her term of office.

A few years ago, Australia launched a new economic strategy for the Southeast Asia region called "Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040", in which Vietnam is a focus of this strategy.

In order to promote economic cooperation, according to the Ambassador, Australia has established an Investment Support Group in Ho Chi Minh City with the task of promoting and supporting investment activities of Australian businesses throughout Vietnam.

In addition, the Australian government also established the Southeast Asia Investment Finance Fund worth 2 billion AUD (equivalent to about 1.34 billion USD) to support the private sector to invest in the region, in which Vietnam is identified as a highlight.

Ambassador Gillian Bird (first row, fourth from left) attends the 14th Ocean Dialogue on May 7 in Hanoi. (Photo: Jackie Chan)

"We also have a regional technology platform that connects the fields of innovation, digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI)... The Australian Government is actively encouraging the private sector to increase investment in this field," Ambassador Gillian Bird added.

According to the Ambassador, Australia fully supports Vietnam's ambitious goals and wishes to accompany them in realizing those goals.

Currently, Australia's development cooperation programs focus on key areas that Vietnam is prioritizing such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and AI.

Within the framework of development cooperation, Australia has implemented a 10-year program called Aus4Innovation in Vietnam. The program was launched in 2018, aiming to support Vietnam in building an innovation ecosystem for sustainable and comprehensive development.

"Revealing" more about projects in the near future, Ambassador Gillian Bird said that Australia will launch the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technology Center in Hanoi, continuing to demonstrate its commitment to technology cooperation and innovation.

According to Ambassador Gillian Bird, the unique feature of the cooperation between Vietnam and Australia is the broad participation, not only at the government level but also with the support of the private sector, research institutes and universities. This multi-stakeholder cooperation model is the key factor in promoting innovation – an area where Australia has a strong connection.

"The foundation for effective cooperation today is the long-standing educational relationship between the two countries, with more than 25 years of development. RMIT University has been present in Vietnam very early. There are currently more than 300 cooperation programs between educational institutions of the two countries, with many programs focusing on research and innovation," the Ambassador emphasized.

The Australian Government supports senior Vietnamese Government officials in a policy exchange program in Australia on carbon market-related policies. (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

Support Vietnam's efforts for peace and development

Ambassador Gillian Bird shared that during her time working at the United Nations and ASEAN, she had many opportunities to work with Vietnam. In particular, as Australia’s senior official on ASEAN for a decade, she had the opportunity to directly acknowledge Vietnam’s persistent efforts and increasingly prominent role in this important regional organization.

Vietnam was the bridge for Australia to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2005 - a foundational document of ASEAN, paving the way for Australia to join the East Asia Summit (EAS).

"I led the Australian delegation throughout this process, worked very closely with my Vietnamese counterpart and had very good impressions. Vietnamese diplomats are very talented. I clearly see Vietnam's role in ASEAN. I believe that role will continue to expand, along with the country's growing development," Ambassador Gillian Bird expressed.

In addition to promoting bilateral relations, with extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, the new Australian Ambassador hopes to contribute to further promoting Australia-ASEAN relations and witnessing greater contributions from Vietnam in ASEAN or the United Nations.

According to Ambassador Gillian Bird, Australia and Vietnam are like-minded partners in their approach to the region. For Australia, national security, stability and prosperity are linked to regional partnerships and Vietnam is a key partner.

"We strongly support Vietnam's efforts to build a stable, inclusive region where national sovereignty is respected and international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is upheld. Vietnam's views on this issue are very similar to Australia's," Ambassador Gillian Bird said.

The Australian diplomat said that ASEAN's central role is essential to keep the region stable and Vietnam is doing a very good job as a proactive and active member, promoting the central role of the Association.

Ambassador Gillian Bird said that Vietnam’s hosting of the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in October is an important international event, demonstrating Vietnam’s increasingly active role and practical contributions to the international community. She said that the Australian Embassy is actively preparing for high-level delegations to visit and attend this event.

The Australian Government is making a long-term investment in the GREAT Gender Responsive Agriculture and Tourism program to support ethnic minority women and men in Lao Cai to develop sustainable livelihoods from organic cinnamon and bamboo shoot production. (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

Proud "connecting bridges"

Particularly impressed and proud of the connection between the people of the two countries, especially with the Vietnamese community of more than 300,000 people in Australia, the Ambassador said that Vietnamese is currently the fourth most commonly used language in Australia, after English, Chinese and Arabic.

The Ambassador also noted that Australians love Vietnam, with the number of tourists fluctuating between 400,000 and 500,000 each year. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed 490,000 Australian tourists.

Vietnamese airlines including national carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have played a huge role in increasing the number of flights between the two countries, not only convenient for tourists but also supporting the transport of goods such as fresh seafood.

In terms of education, there are currently more than 35,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia, with a total of more than 160,000 Vietnamese alumni having studied here. RMIT University has been present in Vietnam for the past 25 years, and the two countries maintain more than 300 cooperation programs in this field.

This is an important foundation to enhance understanding and connection between the two countries, not only in the academic field but also expanding to research cooperation, innovation and cultural exchange.

Many former Vietnamese students are holding important positions in government agencies, businesses and social organizations in Vietnam, playing an effective role as a bridge for bilateral relations.

The growing presence of Australian universities in Vietnam contributes to facilitating learners, promoting knowledge exchange and developing high-quality human resources in line with international integration requirements.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird spoke to reporters about many plans to promote cooperation between the two countries in the coming time. (Photo: Pham Hang)

Vietnam's attraction...

Ambassador Gillian Bird has been to all ASEAN member countries, and this term in Vietnam is an opportunity for her to return to the S-shaped strip of land.

According to her, Vietnam is a vibrant country, full of energy and cultural colors. Hanoi is especially bustling with many activities and a vibrant festival atmosphere, especially in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. Ambassador Gillian Bird visited Ho Chi Minh City and was deeply impressed by the large-scale parade celebrating this important event.

"People even slept overnight on the streets to watch. It was a wonderful day. I am very grateful to the Vietnamese Government for quickly arranging for me to present my credentials in time, allowing me to attend the event as an official Ambassador," the Ambassador shared.

The diplomat shared that she was impressed when she learned that Vietnam had invited back a number of Australian war correspondents. These people are now elderly, and inviting them back was a meaningful gesture, welcomed with joy. That made her admire the Vietnamese people even more, with their tolerance and profound international humanitarian spirit.

Another thing that really attracts her is cuisine. "I have visited all 10 ASEAN countries and I can say that Vietnamese cuisine has made the strongest impression on me in the region," she excitedly recounted with joy and special appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine.

Calling Hanoi a “coffee paradise”, she said: “Australians are very fond of coffee, although they used to drink mainly tea. Now, we have become very ‘choosy’ about coffee, and in my opinion, Hanoi coffee is really great. I am planning to explore every coffee shop here.”

She also expressed her love for pho and banh mi, which many Australians even mistakenly believe to be their traditional dishes.

With her extensive experience and dedication, Ambassador Gillian Bird is expected to contribute to strengthening and developing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Vietnam. The close coordination between the governments, businesses and people of the two countries, through her connecting activities, is expected to contribute many practical benefits to the sustainable development of both countries.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hanh-trang-cua-tan-dai-su-australia-den-viet-nam-von-lieng-tam-huyet-va-suc-hut-315154.html