Promoting the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
VietnamPlus•24/08/2024
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Australian Senate President Sue Lines on July 24, 2024. (Photo: Van Diep/VNA)
At the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and President of the Australian Senate, Ms. Sue Lines paid an official visit to Vietnam from August 24 to 30, 2024. The visit takes place in the context of increasingly strong cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, especially since the two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - a new milestone in Vietnam-Australia relations
Vietnam and Australia officially established diplomatic relations on February 26, 1973. Since then, the two countries have built a strong and enduring relationship with diverse and growing interests. Currently, Vietnam is considered one of Australia's most important bilateral partners. Cooperation between Vietnam and Australia has developed well, especially since the two sides upgraded their bilateral relations to the level of Comprehensive Partnership in 2009 and signed the Declaration on Enhanced Comprehensive Partnership in 2015. In March 2018, during Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to Australia, the two countries officially upgraded their relations to the level of Strategic Partnership, opening a new page in bilateral relations. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has witnessed strong, comprehensive, strategic developments in all fields.
During the official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation in March 2024, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In particular, during the official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation in March 2024, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, creating a framework to strengthen and deepen the cooperative relationship, meeting common aspirations, for the common interests of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. The Joint Statement of the visit set out the "6 more points" direction including: higher and more strategic political and diplomatic trust; more inclusive, substantive and effective economic, trade and investment cooperation; stronger promotion of science and technology cooperation, innovation, digital transformation and green transformation; more comprehensive and profound cooperation in culture, education and training, environment and climate change response; more open and sincere people-to-people exchange and connection between generations; understand each other, sympathize and share more about security and defense, towards peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Vietnam and Australia are committed to continuing to develop relations in all fields and promoting an upgraded relationship on the basis of respect for international law, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and respect for each country's political system. The upgrading of relations between Vietnam and Australia is a natural and appropriate development step given the level of relations between the two countries after more than 50 years of building and developing. In recent times, delegation exchanges and high-level contacts between the two countries have taken place regularly, contributing to maintaining political trust and promoting cooperation in many fields between the two countries. Most recently, President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines attended the State Funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (July 25, 2024) on behalf of the leaders of the State, Government and Parliament of Australia. The Australian delegation led by Senate President Sue Lines visited General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (Photo: VNA) Australian Senate President Sue Lines assessed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong played an important role in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. During the meeting with Australian Senate President Sue Lines (afternoon of July 24, 2024), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his sincere thanks to the Senate President, the Leaders, Government and people of Australia for sending condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam. At the meeting, the leaders of the two countries discussed a number of key orientations on cooperation between the two countries and agreed to continue promoting key areas of cooperation, including traditional areas such as politics, defense-security, economics-trade-investment, people-to-people exchange, science-technology as well as new areas such as climate change response, equitable energy transition, digital transformation, digital economy, circular economy, mining, etc., thereby further strengthening strategic trust, commensurate with the stature of the relationship and the aspirations of the leaders and people of the two countries. On the afternoon of July 24, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Australian Senate President Sue Lines, who came to Vietnam to attend the funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (Photo: Van Diep/VNA) Currently, bilateral cooperation mechanisms between the two countries are flexibly implemented both directly and online. There are currently more than 20 bilateral cooperation mechanisms being flexibly maintained, including important mechanisms such as: annual meetings of the two Prime Ministers, two Foreign Ministers, two Defense Ministers, and the Economic Partnership Conference and cooperation between localities. The cooperative relationship between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Australian Parliament has also developed well both bilaterally and at multilateral parliamentary forums. The two sides are actively coordinating to implement the Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Australian Parliament signed in 2022. Regarding multilateral cooperation, the two countries cooperate well at regional and international forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)... Vietnam supports Australia's candidacy for the position of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2013-2014 term and the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2016-2017 term... Australia supports Vietnam to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 and 2023-2025 terms; member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (July 2022) for the term 2022-2026, closely coordinating as Co-Chair of the Southeast Asia Program of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for the period 2022-2025...
Economic and trade cooperation is always promoted.
Economic and trade cooperation is a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries. Vietnam and Australia are each other's leading trade partners. In 2021, the total two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Australia exceeded 12.4 billion USD for the first time, up 49.4% compared to 2020 despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, it will reach 15.6 billion USD; in 2023, it will reach 13.8 billion USD; in the first 7 months of 2024, it will reach 8.23 billion USD. Assessing the trade prospects between the two countries, experts all said that the two countries are facing great cooperation opportunities because both countries are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - a new generation trade agreement that is inclusive and open. In addition, Vietnam and Australia are implementing the Economic Engagement Strategy, along with a Roadmap to Promote Trade and Investment Relations between the two countries in the 2021-2025 period. This Strategy emphasizes the importance of adhering to and strengthening the global trading system based on international rules, which is the basis for promoting free trade and working together to address common challenges. The Economic Engagement Strategy aims to double two-way investment and become one of each other's top 10 trading partners. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines on July 24, 2024. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA) Regarding investment, as of July 20, 2024, Australia has 655 investment projects with a total investment capital of more than 2 billion USD, ranking 20th out of 147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, focusing on the fields of processing, manufacturing, accommodation services, healthcare, social assistance and agriculture, forestry and fisheries. On the contrary, by the end of 2023, Vietnam has 92 investment projects in Australia with a total investment capital of 552.7 million USD, ranking 11th out of 80 countries and territories, mainly in the fields of agriculture, forestry, wholesale and retail, processing and manufacturing. Typical investment projects of Vietnam are: TH Group, An Vien Group in Northern Australia; Vinfast Group in Melbourne; VietJet signed an agreement to invest in airport infrastructure in Melbourne and opened direct flights to major cities in Australia such as Sydney, Melbourne, etc. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between businesses of the two countries in March 2024. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA) Regarding official development assistance (ODA), Australia has long provided Vietnam with a stable source of ODA. In more than 50 years since establishing diplomatic relations, Australia has provided Vietnam with a total of 3 billion Australian dollars (AUD) (about 47 trillion VND). In recent years, many Western countries have cut back, but Australia has maintained ODA for Vietnam. The Australian Government's ODA for Vietnam focuses on the fields of innovation; supporting the development and effective use of a highly skilled workforce; enhancing economic empowerment for women, including ethnic minorities; responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; creating favorable conditions and attracting the participation of the private sector in socio-economic development. In addition, cooperation between the two countries in the fields of security, defense, education and training, labor, agriculture, etc. has always developed well and has great potential. Two areas of cooperation with great potential between the two countries today are mineral exploitation and telecommunications.
One pillar of enhanced cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in recent times is green energy transition.
Australia is working with the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to share experiences and support the improvement of mineral exploitation laws, as mining is an area in which Australia has strengths. Australia hopes to support Vietnam in building a reliable fiber optic cable system connecting Vietnam to the world. Another pillar of cooperation that has been strengthened between Australia and Vietnam in recent times is the green energy transition. During his visit to Vietnam in June 2023, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a new partnership worth 105 million AUD, which Australia called "Aus for growth." This partnership mainly revolves around the green energy transition to support Vietnam's efforts to build green supply chains, as this will be essential for trading in the future economy. Vietnam News Agency General Director Vu Viet Trang introduces some outstanding images of Vietnam-Australia relations to the two Prime Ministers in June 2023. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA) Then, in August 2023, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, during her visit to Vietnam, announced a support package worth 95 million AUD to help Vietnam respond to climate change, especially for the Mekong Delta region. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong listens to an introduction to egg coffee, a specialty drink of Hanoi, during her official visit to Vietnam (2023). (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA) According to the Chairman of the Australian Clean Energy Agency (CER), Mr. David Parker, Australia began laying the foundation for developing a carbon credit market 12 years ago, and Australia is always ready to support and wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam in this field. Currently, both countries have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and the two countries have a lot to learn from each other in this field. Regarding science and technology cooperation, in recent times, the Australian Government has approved many support programs to help Vietnam build an innovation ecosystem, enhance the application and development of science, technology and digital technology. In the coming time, the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Australian Ministry of Industry, Science and Resources will continue to coordinate in managing and effectively implementing cooperation programs to develop and connect the innovation ecosystems of the two countries more strongly, practically serving the national goals of sustainable socio-economic development based on science, technology and innovation, as well as further promoting cooperation between the two countries in this field. Australian students practice painting on Vietnamese conical hats at the Cultural Festival, introducing Vietnamese cultural activities, cuisine and traditional festivals to international students and overseas Vietnamese living in Australia. (Photo: Dieu Linh/VNA) Regarding education, there are currently about 31,000 Vietnamese students and postgraduates studying in Australia. The two countries have signed about 50 joint training and joint training programs, about 200 cooperation and joint research documents between universities and research institutes of the two countries. In October 2021, the two countries signed a supplementary agreement on the Vietnam-Australia Human Resource Development Program for the 2021-2025 period, worth 50.1 million AUD. The friendship between the two countries has also been nurtured thanks to the good development of twinned local pairs, such as Ho Chi Minh City and Queensland state, Da Nang and Gold Coast city... To date, there have been 15 twinned local pairs. Australian states and territories have promoted the implementation of the Southeast Asia Cooperation Strategy, which values and prioritizes Vietnam. 4/8 states have opened Trade and Investment Offices in Vietnam. With the good foundation of the relationship over the past 50 years, the Vietnam-Australia relationship will certainly continue to be nurtured and increasingly sustainable. The official visit to Vietnam by President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines (from August 24 to 30, 2024) is expected to outline a specific cooperation program to develop the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership more substantially, contributing to bringing the relationship between the two countries to new milestones./. Cao Lanh Bridge across Tien River has a total construction cost of VND7,500 billion, of which the Australian Government's non-refundable aid is about USD160 million. It will be put into use from June 27, 2022, playing an important role in the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta in particular and the whole country in general. (Photo: Nhut An/VNA)
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