The 19th Vietnam-Australia Consular Consultation: Enhancing trust and delivering substantive results

On October 21, in Canberra (Australia), the 19th Consular Consultation Meeting between Vietnam and Australia took place, allowing the consular agencies of the two sides to have frank, substantive and specific discussions on issues arising in consular work; and to share and exchange experiences in handling professional work.

The 19th Consular Consultative Meeting between Vietnam and Australia. (Photo: Bao Chi)

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Doan Hoang Minh, Director of the Consular Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , and Ms. Elizabeth McGregor, Director of the Consular and Crisis Management Division of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Representatives from relevant agencies and diplomatic and consular missions of each side also attended the meeting.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of positive developments in relations between Vietnam and Australia across many fields. Both sides agreed that consular cooperation is one of the highlights of bilateral relations.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the results of the implementation of tasks set out at the 18th Consular Consultative Meeting; exchanged views on the protection of Vietnamese citizens in Australia and Australian citizens in Vietnam; facilitated entry and exit for citizens of both countries into each other's territories; and discussed ways to resolve difficulties in consular work.

Both sides agreed that the Consular Consultative Meeting mechanism is an effective mechanism that allows consular agencies to have frank, substantive, and specific discussions on issues arising in consular work; and to share and exchange experiences in resolving professional issues.

On the sidelines of the Consular Consultative Meeting, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade arranged for the Vietnamese delegation to visit the Australian Passport Office in Canberra and learn from Australia's experience in implementing the Hague Convention on the exemption from legalization of public documents.

The Vietnam-Australia Consular Consultative Meeting is a bilateral dialogue mechanism between agencies under the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries responsible for consular affairs. Established in 2004, it is held periodically, alternating between Vietnam and Australia. The 20th Vietnam-Australia Consular Consultative Meeting is expected to be held in Vietnam.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tu-van-lanh-su-viet-nam-australia-lan-thu-19-tang-cuong-tin-cay-va-mang-lai-ket-qua-thuc-chat-332525.html