PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visits to New Zealand and Australiaas well as his attendance in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit from March12-18 have created milestones, lifting relations between Vietnam and the twocountries to a new height, said a senior diplomat.
Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs Nguyen Quoc Dung told the press after thetrips that PM Phuc and his Australian counterpartMalcolm Turnbull signed a joint statement on the establishment of strategicpartnership.
Withthe formation of the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, Vietnam hasgradually completed cooperation frameworks with important partners in allcontinents, helping the country affirm its role and position in the region andthe world at large.
Meanwhile, PMPhuc’s New Zealand visit helped strengthen the bilateral comprehensivepartnership and chart a specific roadmap towards a strategic partnership in thenear future, Dung said.
Up to 12cooperation documents were signed by Vietnamese and New Zealand ministries,agencies, localities, businesses and universities while 24 others were inked inAustralia during the PM’s visits, creating more legal frameworks forcollaboration in economy-trade, defence, education-training, agriculture andscience-technology between Vietnam and the two countries, he noted.
The visits havealso laid an important foundation to unleash cooperation potential and promoteeconomic connectivity between Vietnam and the two countries, bringing practicalopportunities and interests to their localities and businesses, the deputyminister said.
Dung stressedthat commitments made by Australia and New Zealand to opening their doors for Vietnamesefarm produce and transferring technologies in spearhead agricultural sectors toVietnam are expected to offer long-term benefits to Vietnamese farmers andcontribute to the country’s implementation of sustainable development goals.
The officialnoted with pleasure the successful organisation of the Vietnam-New ZealandBusiness Forum and the Vietnam-Australia Business Forum, with four deals signedin New Zealand and 17 others inked in Australia, serving as platforms for theirministries, sectors and enterprises to seek cooperation opportunities in thefields of energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, transport,farm produce trading, supporting industries and services.
“It can be saidthat PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visits have blown a new breath of air into economiccooperation between Vietnam and the two nations,” Dung said.
At the sametime, the visits have created a breakthrough in people-to-people exchangesthrough special education, tourism and labour links as well as the overseasVietnamese communities in the two countries, he added.
Asked aboutfactors contributing to the success of the visits, Dung said they are Vietnam’sincreasing position and strength, and PM Phuc’s role in affirming theVietnamese Government’s resolve to build a constructive,upright and action-oriented Government.
Moreover, Vietnam and the twocountries have demand for bilateral cooperation, and share determination andvision to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region,he said, adding that another factor is the thorough preparations for the visitsby Vietnam and New Zealand as well as Australia.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse were welcomed by NZ PM Jacinda Ardern. (Source: VNA) Regarding Vietnam’s contributionsto the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, which took place in Sydney from March16-18, Dung said Vietnam closely coordinated with Australia and other ASEANmember countries to set forth the event’s agenda.
In his keynote speech delivered atthe summit, PM Phuc proposed orientations for the ASEAN-Australia strategicpartnership, prioritising the enhancement of cooperation in economic affairsand ensuring regional peace and security.
As one of the four ASEAN leadersinvited to address the summit’s retreat, PM Phuc said law respect should be thefoundation to build trust in the region and a comprehensive approach should beapplied in maritime cooperation.
Vietnam’s active and proactiveparticipation in the summit has been recognised by Australia and other ASEANnations, Dung stressed.-VNA
VNA
