President Truong Tan Sang received Australian ambassador Allaster Cox who came to bid farewell at the end of his tenure in Hanoi on June 20.

He congratulated Cox on being awarded Vietnamese insignia for the cause of health care and education as well as the Friendship Order.

Sang said the decorations were in recognition of the ambassador’s great contribution to bilateral ties.

In response, Cox praised Vietnam ’s development, especially in the fields of diplomacy, politics, infrastructure investment, education and healthcare, and he predicted greater development to come.-VNA