Implement 6 major directions to bring Vietnam cooperation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meet privately. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

On the morning of March 7, after a solemn official welcoming ceremony at the Parliament House, Canberra capital with the highest ceremony reserved for the head of government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had an in-depth meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's first official visit to Australia; assessed the visit as having important significance, marking a new milestone in the relationship between the two countries after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations; highly appreciated the active contribution of the Vietnamese delegation to the overall success of the Special Summit to celebrate 50 years of ASEAN - Australia relations held in Melbourne on March 5 and 6; recalled the good impressions of the official visit to Vietnam as well as the meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in June 2023.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the greetings of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and key leaders to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; thanked the Australian Government, people and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the warm and thoughtful reception for the delegation; and congratulated Australia on successfully organizing the Special Summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh believes that under the leadership of the Labor Government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australia will continue to achieve many great achievements, increasingly affirming its role and position in the region and internationally.

In the spirit of sincerity and trust, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the strong development of the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries; agreed to upgrade the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership; discussed and agreed to closely coordinate to implement 6 major directions to bring cooperation in all fields into greater depth, effectiveness and substance, specifically:

Higher political and diplomatic trust, more strategic. Accordingly, 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; promote people-to-people exchanges, create conditions for friendship associations of the two countries to organize cultural, sports and charity activities; strengthen practical cooperation between localities; promote cooperation in the field of gender equality and protection of rights for vulnerable groups...

Economic, trade and investment cooperation will be more comprehensive, substantive and effective, taking advantage of the potential of the two highly complementary economies. Accordingly, 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.

Promote stronger cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transformation. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of science, technology, and innovation; Australia supports technology transfer to Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises; and calls on Australian technology enterprises to cooperate with innovation centers, software parks, and semiconductor chip manufacturing in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese exchanged a Joint Statement on upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Comprehensive and deeper cooperation in culture, education - training, environment, and climate change response. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to enhance cultural exchange activities; promote vocational education cooperation, increase the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Australia; open more branches of major Australian universities in Vietnam. Promote the green hydrogen production industry in Vietnam; cooperate in responding to climate change, support Vietnam to achieve the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

People-to-people exchanges and connections between generations will be more open and sincere. Accordingly, 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; promptly implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Governments on supporting Vietnamese citizens working in the Australian agricultural sector. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the Australian Government continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Australia to live, work, study, establish associations, etc.

Understanding, sympathizing and sharing more about national security and defense cooperation. 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 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

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