The Speaker noted with pleasure the positive development ofthe Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, and spoke highly of efforts madeby both sides to strengthen their relationship pragmatically and intensively,with the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES) put inplace.
He congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economicachievements last year, saying Vietnam maintained its positiveeconomic growth and Australia has become the 10th biggest tradepartner of the Southeast Asian nation despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wallace also lauded Vietnam’s performance in thepandemic fight and COVID-19 vaccination, which, he said, would be a foundation for thetwo countries to soon resume commercial flights and step up economic, trade andinvestment ties as well as people-to-people exchanges.
For his part, Thanh said Vietnam always keeps in mindAustralia’s valuable support during its cause of national construction anddevelopment over the past 50 years, including Australia’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the country.
Both officials consented to beef up the bilateral relationship,especially their legislative ties, towards the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2023).
They discussed the establishment ofparliamentarians’ groups to strengthen the relationship, and shared the hopefor the further exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries in efforts toadvance their strategic partnership to a new height./.