Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Israeli President Shimon Peres on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Dec. 17.

PM Dung expressed his pleasure at development in relations between Vietnam and Australia.

He thanked Australia for its assistance to Vietnam’s environmental protection and fight against climate change. He also asked Australia to transfer advanced weather forecast technologies and results of climate change research to the Asia-Oceania region.

PM Dung took this opportunity to propose Australia to consider early negotiations on a vacation labour agreement and an agreement on recognition of quarantine, as well as expansion of cooperation in vocational training, and assistance for Cao Lanh bridge construction.

The two sides need to work together in developing a plan of action to implement comprehensive partnership documents reached during a recent visit to Australia by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, stressed the Prime Minister.

Australian PM Kevin Rudd agreed with PM Dung’s views, saying that the two sides need to accelerate the action plan on implementation of the comprehensive partnership, which is expected to be signed during a visit to Vietnam by the Australian PM next year.

The two countries need to sign a memorandum of understanding to promote security and defence dialogue mechanism, PM Rudd said.

Regarding climate change issue, PM Rudd said he wished to promote bilateral cooperation in environmental protection and weather forecast.

During his meeting with Israeli President Peres, PM Dung proposed that the two sides accelerate negotiation to sign agreements on investment encouragement and protection, labour cooperation, and maritime transport in helping boost economic, trade and investment between the two countries.

The two sides may establish joint ventures in telecommunications, information technology, food industry and chemicals sectors, he said, adding that he wished Israel to continue providing personnel training and higher-education scholarships for Vietnamese students, particularly in biotechnology and high technology..

President Peres expressed his admiration for late President Ho Chi Minh and pleasure at the development of bilateral relations in recent years.

President Peres said that Israel is willing to cooperate with Vietnam in agriculture, biotechnology and health, an Israeli strength.

The same day, PM Dung had bilateral meetings with other leaders who are in Copenhagen for the UN climate summit./.