Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called for concerted efforts to tap great potential of cooperation with Australia left in a number of fields for both mutual and regional benefits.

The Government leader made the call during his meeting with Australian Minister of Trade Simon in Hanoi on July 24, citing trade, investment, education-training, official development assistance and science-technology as the fields of great potential for bilateral cooperation.

He therefore asked Crean to work with Vietnamese authorities in solving outstanding problems to boost bilateral trade and Australian investment flows into Vietnam while promoting Australian education among Vietnamese students.

“Australia should consider aid for Vietnam to build Cao Lanh bridge and speed up deployment of agreements reached at the eighth session of the Joint Vietnam-Australia Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation,” said the Government leader.

Dung concluded by expressing thanks to the Australian Government and people for providing good conditions for the Vietnamese community to work and live in stable conditions as well as integrate themselves into the resident country.

For his part, the Australian trade minister pledged aid to Vietnam through a post-WTO programme, construction of the Cao Lanh bridge and assistance in education and training.

Crean also expressed Australian interest in cooperation with Vietnam in trade, ODA, investment, education and training.

The Australia-Vietnam relationship has been faring well in recent years, bringing practical benefits to both countries and bilateral agreements have made major progress after Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Australia in October, 2008, noted Crean with satisfaction./.