President: Vietnam values strategic partnership with Australia

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always values the
promotion of friendly relations and strategic partnership with Australia, a long-standing
traditional partner and one of the countries forming comprehensive strategic partnership
with ASEAN, President Vo Van Thuong told Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski during
a reception in Hanoi on March 17.
President
Thuong thanked Australia for being the second largest donor of COVID-19
vaccines to Vietnam with 26.4 million doses, thus helping the country drive
back the pandemic and recover socio-economic development.
He said
two-way trade between the two countries hit 16.1 billion USD last year. With
579 projects worth nearly 1.98 billion USD, Australia ranked 20th out of 139 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. During the 2022-2023
fiscal year, Australia increased the supply of official development assistance
to Vietnam by 18% and assisted the country in development cooperation projects,
especially in improving livelihoods and clean water supply. In particular,
Australia assisted Vietnam in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Speaking
highly of the Australian Government’s scholarship programmes, Thuong said a number
of Australian educational establishments have contributed to the training of
Vietnamese management officials.
The
host suggested enhancing collaboration in fields of each country’s strength
such as climate change, environment, agriculture and tourism to match bilateral
strategic partnership.
Vietnam
will actively fight corruption, fine-tune laws, create the best business
environment to attract more foreign investors, including those from Australia,
he said.
Goledzinowski, for his part, said 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and he will actively contribute to
bilateral relationship.
He proposed further coordination in UN peacekeeping missions,
national defence-security, personnel training, climate change and use of
renewable energy.
The guest wished to receive support from the Vietnamese
ministries and agencies in Australia’s investment projects in the country.
As mining is Vietnam’s strength while Australia has modern
technology, he wished to reinforce bilateral cooperation in this field to raise
two-way trade./.