Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) hosts the welcome ceremony for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Hanoi on August 23 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on August 24 concluded his three-day officialvisit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
During his stay in Vietnam, PM Morrison had talks and a working breakfast withhis Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, met with Chairwoman of theNational Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh,and attended a meeting with the business commuinities of both countries.
On this occasion, the Australian PM laid flowers and paid tribute to PresidentHo Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, and visited the late President’s still house.Morrison also visited the Vietnam People’s Army’s Level-2 Field Hospital No. 2at the Hanoi-based Military Medical University, and the construction site ofthe Vietnamese Formula 1 circuit project in Hanoi.
At the meetings, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the strong, dynamicand effective development of the Vietnam-Australia relationship over the pasttime, saying that the two countries hold substantial potential tostrengthen their ties. They spoke highly of the regular exchange of all-leveldelegations through all channels.
The two sides issued a joint statement between Vietnam and Australia, in whichthey reaffirmed their commitment to developing the bilateral ties towards a newhigher level.
They recognised each other’s increasing importance, both bilaterally and aspartners in the Indo-Pacific region as well as in the international community;and acknowledged that the partnership is founded on a basis of mutual respect,mutual trust, converging interests and deepening links. They agreed to increasethe depth and breadth of engagement between the two countries in advance of the50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
To this end, they agreed that Vietnam and Australia’s Plan of Action for theStrategic Partnership for the period of 2020-2023 will focus on three priorityareas: enhancing economic engagement; deepening strategic, defence and securitycooperation; and building knowledge and innovation partnerships.
Both sides agreed to develop an Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy with theaim of becoming top ten trade partners and doubling investment; and emphasisedtheir commitment to promoting bilateral economic opportunities and regionaleconomic integration through free trade agreements and cooperation inmultilateral economic frameworks, including APEC.
In this context, they welcomed the 10th anniversary of the AgreementEstablishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, and the work underwayto upgrade that Agreement; committed to work together to ensure smoothimplementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership. They agreed on the importance of concluding negotiations on amodern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement this year.
Both sides will strengthen collaboration in knowledge and innovation, includingbetween public services and establish a Vietnam – Australia Centre at the HoChi Minh National Academy of Politics. They committed to protecting the healthof the oceans, by reducing plastic waste, sharing technologies and expertiseand improving the sustainability of fishing. Both sides will encourage theirrespective localities to step up cooperation through the exchange ofdelegations at various levels and sharing of management expertise, particularlyin urban planning, transport infrastructure, education and training, andinnovative entrepreneurship.
Both countries remain committed to an open, inclusive, prosperous and secureregion defined by respect for international law, sovereignty, independence andterritorial integrity. They reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN centrality andASEAN-led architecture, particularly the East Asia Summit.
They emphasised the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight,compliance with international law and maintaining a rules-based order. Theycalled on all parties to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that mayfurther complicate the situation. They also reaffirmed the need for states toresolve disputes peacefully, without the threat or use of force in accordancewith international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Australiancounterpart Scott Morrison witnessed the signing of cooperation documents andagreements between the two countries. - VNA
