Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

During the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed Ms. Penny Wong on her second visit to Vietnam as Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs . The Prime Minister also expressed his confidence that, following the recent successful visits by Australian leaders, this visit by the Minister would make a significant contribution to maintaining momentum and promoting the rapidly developing Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership in the year the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2023).

Recalling the positive results achieved during the official visits to Vietnam by the Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley, in April 2023 and the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, in June 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed satisfaction with the strong development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Australia, especially the increasingly strengthened political trust between the two countries, and the enhanced cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, education, culture, labor, people-to-people exchanges, and local connectivity.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed satisfaction with the strong development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Australia. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to continue coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to effectively implement the agreements reached and signed documents, develop specific cooperation projects and activities to further deepen areas of cooperation, create a solid foundation to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level, and prepare well for upcoming high-level visits between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the two countries need to strengthen cooperation in education, labor, cultural exchange, and people-to-people exchanges, encouraging businesses from both countries to expand investment in areas where both sides have strengths; while also promoting cooperation in new areas such as climate change response, energy transition, green growth, digital economy, and digital transformation.

The Prime Minister also thanked Australia for its valuable support to Vietnam through official development assistance (ODA) and the provision of scholarships for Vietnamese students and researchers.

Minister Penny Wong expressed her pleasure at returning to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023); thanked the Prime Minister for his attention and support for the bilateral relationship; affirmed that Australia values the Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership and expressed her desire for both sides to actively exchange views and further deepen cooperation to bring the bilateral relationship to a new level in the future.

At the same time, the Minister affirmed that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs will cooperate closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in arranging visits and contacts between high-level leaders of the two countries in the near future.

On this occasion, Minister Penny Wong also announced Australia's new support for Vietnam, worth US$60.4 million, to address climate change in the Mekong Delta.

Discussing regional and international issues, Minister Penny Wong emphasized that Australia values ASEAN's central role and the recently established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN; affirmed Australia's continued priority for cooperation with the Mekong sub-region; and highlighted the importance of cooperation and contribution to building a peaceful, stable, balanced region that respects international law.

Tra Khanh

Source