National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (L) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) ChairwomanNguyen Thi Kim Ngan wrapped up official visits to Singapore and Australia fromNovember 26 to December 2, concluding a year full of diplomatic activities ofthe Vietnamese parliament.
Chairman of the NA’s Committee for ExternalRelations Nguyen Van Giau made the remark in an interview with Vietnam NewsAgency following the trips by the top legislator.
Giau said the Singaporean leaders showed theirrespect for Chairwoman Ngan’s visit and congratulated Vietnam on the successfulorganisation of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city.
The leaders of Singapore affirmed that theircountry’s businesses want to expand operation in Vietnam. They spoke highly ofVietnam’s investment environment, especially political and policy stabilitywhich has enhanced investors’ trust.
As part of the visit, a business-to-businessseminar attracted 190 enterprises of Singapore, three times higher than theexpected number. They voiced their interest in investing renewable energy andhi-end resorts while proposing cooperation in education and urban development.
The trip to Singapore was significant to reinforcingthe two countries’ strategic partnership and discussing ways to bolsterparliamentary ties.
The two sides agreed to make regular visits byhigh-ranking delegations, parliamentary agencies, and friendship organisations,thereby bringing into play the fine outcomes of their strategic partnership,Giau noted.
He said during the tour of Australia, the twosides straight forwardly looked into a number of issues so as to boost mutualunderstanding. Notably, Senate President Scott Ryan invited NA Chairwoman Nganand the Vietnamese delegation attended a hearing of the Australian Senate.
The Australian leaders expressed their delightthat Prime Ministers Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Malcolm Turnbull agreed to lift thetwo countries’ relationship to a strategic partnership in the near future. Theysaid since diplomatic ties were set up nearly 45 years ago, Vietnam-Australiarelations have developed unceasingly.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan is welcomed at Fairbairn airport in Canberra (Photo: VNA) Vietnam is now the 15th biggest trade partnerand ranks fifth among sources of foreign students in Australia. The number ofAustralian students in Vietnam has also increased rapidly over the last threeyears, from 161 in 2015 to 340 in 2017, and the figure is expected at more than700 next year, Chairman Giau said, describing them as dynamic young ambassadorsin the future.
The Australian side also assessed Vietnam as apotential country for cooperation, especially in tourism. Foreign MinisterJulie Bishop said 260,000 Australian tourists visited Vietnam in 2016, and thenumber will grow strongly in the time ahead as the Southeast Asian nation ishome to many famous landscapes like Ha Long Bay, Trang An landscape complex,and Son Doong Cave that suit the demand of Australian people.
During the visit, the host leaders also showedtheir interest in the East Sea issue. Minister Bishop said the Foreign Ministryof Australia recently released the White Paper, which also touches upon theproblem.
The Australian leaders expressed theirconsistent viewpoint that all issues relevant to the East Sea must be handledwith respect to law and compliance with international commitments and law,especially The Hague tribunal’s ruling on a related lawsuit last year.
Bishop said although Australia does not haveinterests pertaining to disputes in the East Sea, it wants other countries toensure the freedom of navigation. Governor–General Peter Cosgrove also showed aclear stance on this problem.
Political-diplomatic ties between Vietnam andAustralia has been promoted at all levels, Giau said, noting that Speaker ofAustralia’s House of Representatives Tony Smith is scheduled to visit Vietnamin March 2018. Later, the Australian Governor-General will also come to Vietnamafter Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc makes an official trip to Australia nextyear.
Mutual visits by parliamentary leaders of Vietnamand other countries left a good impression of the NA’s relations withparliaments around the globe, thereby helping to realise diplomatic targets setin the country’s development and integration into the world, Giau added.-VNA
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