The dialogue is an opportunity for both sides to share and exchange views and experiences on emerging security issues that threaten the stability and development of the two countries; as well as promote and enhance mutual understanding, reduce differences in human rights, contribute to strengthening political trust on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2023) between the two countries, and together aim to develop the relationship to new heights.
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| The 3rd Vietnam-Australia Deputy Ministerial Security Dialogue took place in Canberra, Australia on February 22, 2023. In the photo: Ms. Sophie Sharpe, Deputy Minister in charge of the Executive Group, Australian Department of Home Affairs and Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security of Vietnam with delegates. (Source: BCA) |
Close cooperation on security
In the context of the rapidly changing world political and security situation, with complex and unpredictable developments, and transnational organized crime increasing in number and level of danger, cooperation between Vietnam and Australia in the fields of security and human rights is always of interest to the leaders of the two countries.
This is both an inevitable and objective need and demonstrates Vietnam's responsibility in the fight against crime, ensuring human rights and protecting citizens, in line with the orientation of the Party and the State: "Promoting bilateral cooperation activities on defense and security with neighboring countries, ASEAN countries, major countries...
Strengthen cooperation with security, intelligence and police agencies of other countries, first of all neighboring and major countries, proactively and actively participate in cooperation mechanisms to combat transnational crimes and deal with challenges related to food security, water security, energy security, cyber security, maritime security and other non-traditional security challenges”1.
One of the important statements of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to Vietnam in early June 2023 was that "Vietnam will have a priority position in the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 that Australia is building". The positive results in the relationship between the two countries in recent times are the result of the process of building strategic trust and cooperation in various fields, with more than 20 bilateral cooperation mechanisms being flexibly maintained, including the security and law enforcement cooperation mechanism between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Australian Ministry of Home Affairs.
In the field of security and defense, Vietnam and Australia have cooperated closely through delegation exchanges, signing cooperation agreements on crime prevention and control, immigration management, combating illegal migration, information exchange, experience exchange, English training, etc. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in peacekeeping training and mine clearance (2016); the Royal Australian Air Force has supported the transport of our field hospital to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan four times.
Australia is the only country with a permanent representative at the Vietnam Center for Transnational Crime Prevention and Control (in Ho Chi Minh City), through which the two sides regularly exchange intelligence information and cooperate in combating terrorism, human trafficking, drug crimes, etc. The two countries are discussing and preparing to sign a Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement.
The two sides have maintained over 20 cooperation mechanisms, including important mechanisms such as annual meetings between the two Prime Ministers, two Foreign Ministers, two Defense Ministers, the Economic Partnership Conference and cooperation between localities.
Up to now, the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Two Prime Ministers (online, January 2021), the 4th Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers (September 2022), the 3rd Economic Partnership Meeting at the Ministerial level (April 2023), the 3rd Security Dialogue at the Deputy Ministerial level (February 2023), the 8th Strategic Dialogue at the Deputy Ministerial level of Foreign Affairs - Defense (May 2023), the 3rd Defense Policy Dialogue at the Deputy Ministerial level of Defense (October 2019)... and the Consultation mechanisms at the Department/Director level have been held.
At the 3rd Deputy Ministerial Security Dialogue (19-25 February 2023) co-chaired by Ms. Sophie Sharpe, Deputy Minister in charge of the Executive Group of the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, the two sides discussed 6 issues: (i) enhancing cooperation on immigration and combating illegal immigration by sea into Australia; (ii) enhancing cooperation on cyber security, data security and critical technology through considering the possibility of coordination in cyber crime prevention programs; (iii) on serious and transnational crime; (iv) supporting work to share information (actions and policies) to enhance the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and enhance compliance with international standards; (v) enhancing cooperation on disaster risk reduction, climate change, response and resilience through exchanging delegations with the Australian National Emergency Management Agency; (vi) exchange information related to regional and world situations related to each country.
Currently, the two countries are implementing commitments and agreements in signed cooperation documents and the Minutes of the 3rd Deputy Ministerial Security Dialogue, especially in the fields of immigration, training of law enforcement officers in the Asian region, English training, training on cybercrime and cyber security (CSA), and the upcoming deployment of support for the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping force.
Regarding the coordination in the fight against transnational crimes, the two sides have established the Vietnam-Australia Joint Transnational Crime Prevention Team (JTCT).
After more than 10 years of operation, it has contributed to handling more than 200 cases, with over 500 subjects related to transnational crimes. According to Decision 950/QD-BCA dated February 9, 2021 of the Minister of Public Security, the newly completed JTCT model has the function of receiving, processing, verifying, and investigating information and cases of transnational crimes between Vietnam and Australia.
Accordingly, on June 23, 2022, in Ho Chi Minh City, representatives of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Australian Federal Police signed a memorandum of understanding on the Vietnam-Australia Transnational Crime Prevention Team.
| Vietnam and Australia continue to build strategic trust with high-level visits from both sides, most recently the State visit to Vietnam by the Australian Prime Minister (June 2023), by the Australian Governor-General (April 2023) and the official visit to Australia by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (December 2022). |
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| Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet and Australian Deputy Foreign Minister took a souvenir photo with representatives attending the 8th Vietnam-Australia Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Defense. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Open dialogue on human rights
Vietnam and Australia have established an annual Human Rights Dialogue since 2002 in the spirit of frankness, openness, balance and mutual respect. Through 18 rounds of dialogue in each country, the two sides have exchanged and shared their approaches to human rights issues, the situation and efforts to ensure human rights in each country; the issue of the rule of law, legal reform and ensuring freedoms; ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups, gender equality, and discussed multilateral and bilateral cooperation on human rights.
Most recently, the 18th Human Rights Dialogue (April 24, 2023) took place in Vietnam in the context of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with strong development of bilateral relations. Australia is a major partner and the second largest Covid-19 vaccine supporter for Vietnam.
The dialogue is also an official channel for Vietnam and Australia to share information on human rights practices in each country and lessons learned, especially in ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups (women, children, ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA + community, etc.).
The Australian Government has appointed its first Human Rights Ambassador and Gender Equality Ambassador (December 2022) to promote human rights policies that prioritize gender equality, Indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities, and protect the rights of people with disabilities and the “LGBTQIA + ” community.
At the 18th Dialogue, Australia welcomed Vietnam's achievements in ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups and ensuring gender equality with the active and effective participation of social organizations in this field. Australia also issued the National Plan to Combat Violence Against Women and Children for the 2022-2032 period at the end of 2022 and is actively implementing the National Plan on Child Protection for the 2021-2031 period.
Australia also acknowledged Vietnam’s progress in ensuring the rights of LGBTQIA + people (a term used to refer to people with sexual orientations and gender identities other than male and female. Australia is the first country to officially recognize a group of people who identify as “genderless” - “asexual” (abbreviated as A in the gender declaration section on Australian documents and passports) along with legal reforms to better ensure the rights of this group.
In particular, Vietnam has specific regulations to promote the rights of people with disabilities and combat discrimination against people with disabilities in the 2019 Labor Code; promote and ensure the socio-economic rights of ethnic minority groups, and have specific priority plans and programs for ethnic minority communities...
Regarding Australia's concerns regarding freedom of speech, press and the trial of certain law violators that they are concerned about, Vietnam has provided accurate information for Australia to understand correctly and share with Vietnam in the spirit of the rule of law. Vietnam does not arrest or handle cases of exercising freedoms as prescribed by law; does not restrict or arrest many people from exercising their rights.
However, in cases of abusing freedoms to serve plots and intentions to sabotage and overthrow the State, causing social instability, they must be strictly handled according to the law. Prisoners, detainees, and people in temporary detention are all guaranteed food, clothing, housing, daily activities, medical care, and cultural, artistic, physical education, sports, and religious reading activities... according to the provisions of the law. Affirming Vietnam's consistent and continuous policy of respecting and ensuring the basic freedoms of the people with a comprehensive approach, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural, without taking any rights lightly.
In bilateral cooperation on human rights, Australia and Vietnam have carried out many effective activities. In particular, the Australian Human Rights Commission is also actively implementing cooperation on human rights education with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the agency in charge of the Human Rights Education Project in the national education system. The Australian side wishes to strengthen cooperation in preventing human trafficking; cyber security and human rights.
Although there are still differences in approaches to human rights, openness, frankness and constructiveness are important factors for Australia and Vietnam to continue to exchange and share to narrow differences, cooperate and support each other to better promote the rights of people in each country, and at the same time contribute to promoting human rights in the world.
This is the most important point of common ground, the core for Vietnam and Australia to continue to maintain dialogue as well as closer bilateral cooperation in the field of human rights.
Along with the attention and importance of developing relations with the Indo-Pacific region, in which priority is given to developing relations with Southeast Asia, Vietnam is always Australia's top priority partner in the region and wishes to continuously develop cooperative relations with Vietnam, showing that political trust has been firmly consolidated for upgrading the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time.
1 Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW dated April 10, 2013 on international integration
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