Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrives in Australia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in Melbourne, beginning his visit to Australia which will last until March 9th.

The plane carrying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, Le Thi Bich Tran, landed at Melbourne airport on the evening of March 4th. This marks the first visit of a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Australia in seven years, and also Mr. Pham Minh Chinh's first visit to the country as head of government.

Welcoming the Prime Minister at Melbourne airport were Australian Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, and the Prime Minister's Liaison Officer Alexandria John. On the Vietnamese side were Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam and his wife, Vietnamese Consul General in Sydney Nguyen Dang Thang, and staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia.

During his trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the Special Summit commemorating the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations and pay an official visit to Australia at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australian Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife at Melbourne Airport on March 4. Photo: Nhat Bac

The Special Summit commemorating 50 years of ASEAN-Australia relations took place on March 5-6 in Melbourne, with the participation of leaders from ASEAN countries, Australia, and the ASEAN Secretary-General. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the main sessions and participated in several diplomatic activities at the conference.

During his official visit to Australia, the Prime Minister will hold talks with the Australian Prime Minister, meet with the President of the Senate and the Governor-General of Australia, receive opposition leaders, attend the opening ceremony of the Australia-Vietnam Policy Institute, and participate in the Vietnam-Australia Business Forum...

The two sides are expected to sign and exchange numerous cooperation documents in the fields of education, energy, minerals, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, science and technology, innovation, justice, finance, trade, and investment.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shakes hands with Vietnamese diplomats in Australia. Photo: Nhat Bac

Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in February 1973, which were later upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in March 2018.

Bilateral trade reached US$13.8 billion in 2023. Australia is Vietnam's seventh largest trading partner, and Vietnam is Australia's tenth largest trading partner. Australia has opened its market to Vietnamese lychees, mangoes, dragon fruit, longan, and frozen shrimp.

Australia is one of Vietnam's largest bilateral partners providing non-refundable ODA. In the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Australia has provided Vietnam with a total of AUD 3 billion in ODA.

The Vietnamese community in Australia numbers approximately 350,000 people, ranking fifth among foreign ethnic communities in Australia.

Hoang Thuy - Vnexpress.net

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