Vietnam - Australia upgrade relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

On the morning of March 7, after a solemn official welcoming ceremony at the Parliament House, Canberra, with the highest protocol reserved for the head of the Government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had extensive talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The two leaders agreed to upgrade the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and to closely coordinate to implement six major directions to deepen cooperation in all fields, making it more effective and substantive.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held extensive talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac).

In terms of politics and high-level diplomacy, the two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges and high-level contacts; maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms; effectively implement signed documents and prepare to build an Action Program for the 2024-2028 period, and promote people-to-people exchanges.

More comprehensive and profound cooperation in culture, education - training, environment, and climate change response.

In addition to the current good cooperation, the two sides agreed to promote the signing of a cooperation agreement in the field of tourism, striving to bring the two countries into the group of each other's leading tourism markets; and soon implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Governments on supporting Vietnamese citizens working in Australia's agricultural sector.

Leaders of the two countries exchanged views at the talks (Photo: VGP).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Australian Government to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Australia to live, work, study, and establish associations...

Regarding comprehensive economic, trade and investment cooperation, the two sides agreed to facilitate the opening of markets for each other's agricultural products, aiming to diversify the supply chain for the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Australia to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business and invest in Australia; and welcomed Australian enterprises to invest in Vietnam, especially high-quality projects with modern technology, which are Australia's strengths.

Regarding cooperation in science, technology and innovation, the two sides agreed to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of science, technology and innovation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese exchanged statements on upgrading the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac).

Australia supports technology transfer to Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises; calls on Australian technology enterprises to cooperate with innovation centers, software parks, and semiconductor chip manufacturing in Vietnam.

Regarding defense and security cooperation, the two sides agreed to understand, sympathize and share more. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to effectively implement the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement; continue to cooperate closely in the fields of training, coaching, transnational crime prevention, information sharing, experience exchange between armies and services, overcoming the consequences of war, building national data, etc.

Discussing regional and international issues, the two sides agreed to continue supporting each other and cooperating closely at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated Australia's stance on supporting the rule of international law in the region and resolving disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS.

After the talks, the two Prime Ministers issued a Joint Statement on upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Australia and witnessed the exchange of 11 cooperation documents in the fields of education and training; peacekeeping; consumer protection; trade and investment promotion; science and technology, innovation; finance; banking; scientific research for agricultural, forestry and fishery development; labor; environmental resources; and energy and minerals.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/viet-nam-australia-nang-quan-he-len-doi-tac-chien-luoc-toan-dien-192240307141354073.htm