In a New Year Message to Vietnamese people, Minister Smith confirmedthat the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, signed inSeptember 2009, has elevated bilateral relations to a new level.
Vietnam has been the Australia’s fastest growing trading partner in theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the past fiveyears, the minister said, adding that the bilateral economicrelationship will continue to grow as Vietnam continues its economicreform process.
He said that Australia welcomes Vietnam as the new Chair of ASEAN andthe East Asia Summit in 2010 and looks forward to continuing the twocountries’ close cooperation on regional issues.
According to Minister Smith, the warm and extensive people-to -peoplerelationships would underpin bilateral ties between Vietnam andAustralia, the home to approximately 188,000 overseas Vietnamese andmore than 24,000 Vietnamese students in 2009.
Tourism is also an important element in relationship between the twonations with over 210,000 Australians visiting Vietnam last year, hesaid.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the Australian minister extendedhis wishes of health, happiness, success and prosperity to allVietnamese people. He also highlighted that the 1,000th anniversary ofthe capital city of Hanoi in 2010 will be a special year for Vietnamesein Australia and worldwide./.