Australia supports Vietnam with more than 60 million USD to respond to climate change

Australia's Foreign Minister announced that his country will support Vietnam with 94 million AUD (more than 60 million USD) to respond to climate change in the Mekong Delta.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the afternoon of August 22 received Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the occasion of her official visit to Vietnam, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two countries ' foreign ministries continue to coordinate in implementing signed agreements and documents, building cooperation projects and activities, creating a foundation to bring bilateral relations to a higher level and preparing for upcoming high-level visits.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the two countries need to strengthen cooperation in education, labor, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, encourage businesses of the two countries to expand investment in areas of strength, and promote cooperation in new areas such as climate change response, energy transition, green growth, digital economy , and digital transformation.

Foreign Minister Wong affirmed that Australia attaches great importance to the Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership and expressed her desire to take the relationship to a new level. She also announced Australia’s new assistance to Vietnam worth AUD 94 million (over USD 60 million) to respond to climate change in the Mekong Delta.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Photo: VGP

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked Australia for its support to Vietnam through official development assistance (ODA) and scholarships for Vietnamese students and researchers.

Discussing regional and international issues, Foreign Minister Wong emphasized that Australia values ​​the central role of ASEAN and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established with ASEAN, affirming that Australia continues to prioritize cooperation with the Mekong sub-region, promoting the importance of cooperation and contributing to building a region of peace, stability, balance, and respect for international law.

Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1973, then upgraded to a strategic partnership in March 2018. Bilateral trade turnover in 2022 reached 15.7 billion USD, up 26.7% compared to 2021. Australia is the 7th largest trading partner and has opened its doors to lychee, mango, dragon fruit, longan, and frozen shrimp from Vietnam.

As of April, Australia had 596 investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of nearly 2 billion USD, focusing on the fields of processing, manufacturing, accommodation services, healthcare, social assistance, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Vietnam has also invested in 88 projects in Australia with a total capital of more than 592 million USD, ranking 10th out of 79 countries and territories investing in this country, mainly in the fields of agriculture, forestry, wholesale and retail, and manufacturing.

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

The Vietnamese community in Australia has about 350,000 people, ranking 5th among foreign ethnic communities in Australia.

Vnexpress.net