Politics

Prime Minister welcomes Australian Foreign Minister

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for visiting Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne in Hanoi on June 13.
Prime Minister welcomes Australian Foreign Minister ảnh 1Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc hosted a reception for visiting Australian Minister of ForeignAffairs Marise Payne in Hanoi on June 13.

PM Phuc congratulated Payne on her reappointmentas Minister for Foreign Affairs cum Minister for Women of Australia. 

The PM spoke highly of Payne’s role in andsignificant contributions to promoting the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnershipover the past years in both positions as the Minister for Foreign Affairs atpresent and the Minister for Defence in the past.

He welcomed Payne for selecting Vietnam as oneof the first countries to visit right in the second week of her new workingtenure.

Relations between Vietnam and Australia havebeen developing fruitfully in the recent past, PM Phuc said, adding that Australiahas annually trained nearly 30,000 Vietnamese students.

Two-way tradereached 7.7 billion USD in 2018, a year-on-year rise of 19.3 percent. Australiacurrently ranks 19th among 128 foreign investors in Vietnam with total investmentof over 1.84 billion USD, while Vietnam is running 47 direct investmentprojects in Australia.

Besideseconomic ties, the potential for bilateral cooperation in other realms remainslarge, PM Phuc said.

He asked the twosides to review the implementation of the Vietnam-Australia action programmefor 2016-2019 and begin the building of an action programme to realise thebilateral strategic partnership in the next period with special measures andgoals to further deepen the bilateral cooperation in all fields.

The PM suggested the two sides effectivelyuphold the current bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the annualcoordination mechanisms at the ministerial level. 

Vietnam and Australia should increase trade andinvestment ties while stepping up cooperation in other important spheres suchas education, training, culture, tourism, sports and people-to-peopleexchanges, creating a firm foundation for the expansion and enhancement ofcomprehensive cooperation at the central and local levels, he recommended.

PM hopedAustralia will continue providing official development assistance (ODA) forVietnam and assisting the Southeast Asian country to improve the administrationcapacity and experience in managing the economy amidst the Fourth IndustrialRevolution and e-government.

The PM extolled the effective cooperation and coordinationbetween Vietnam and Australia at regional and international forums, especiallythe United Nations (UN), ASEAN-Australia partnership and expanded ASEANmechanisms, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM), and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP).

He hoped Australia will continue supporting andcoordinating closely with Vietnam when the country takes over the role as anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and chairmanshipof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020, including theorganisation of the ASEAN-Australia Summit in 2020.

Regarding the East Sea issue, PM Phuc clearlystated that Vietnam highly appreciated Australia’s viewpoint and hopedAustralia will continue to have a strong voice and back the stance of ASEAN andVietnam with the spirit of peace, friendship, freedom of aviation andnavigation, and compliance with international law.

Payne said she will spare no effort to promotethe relationship between the two countries, adding that Australian PM ScottMorrison attaches great importance to cooperation with Vietnam and hopes tovisit the Southeast Asian country soon.

The minister congratulated Vietnam on becoming anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, which,she said, shows the increasingly important role of Vietnam in the internationalarena.

She agreed to PM Phuc’s proposal on stepping upbilateral trade and investment ties, saying the CPTPP has opened up manycooperation opportunities and many Australian businesses want to increaseinvestment in Vietnam.

The minister said she will direct the Australianforeign ministry to expand new cooperation with Vietnam in the spirit ofstrategic partnership.

Australia is willing to support Vietnam inimplementing its development priorities such as infrastructure, digitalcapacity, and cyber security as well as continue strengthening coordinationwith Vietnam in the East Sea matter to ensure regional peace, stability andprosperity, she affirmed.-VNA
VNA
#Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc #reception #Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne #Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership #investment #trade #people-to-people exchanges #official development assistance (ODA) #ASEAN #APEC #ASEM #CPTPP #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News Agency Australia Vietnam
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Vietnam – Australia defence ties strengthened

Vietnam – Australia defence ties strengthened

Lt. Gen. Ngo Minh Tien, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, on May 27 received Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, head of the Australian Defence Ministry delegation, now in Vietnam to attend the seventh Vietnam – Australia Defence Consultation Channel 1.5.
Vietnam, Australia boost peacekeeping cooperation

Vietnam, Australia boost peacekeeping cooperation

An Australia-funded programme to share experience for officers and medical workers of the level-2 field hospital No.2 wrapped up at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) on June 5.

See more

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Sophon Zaram in Hanoi during the latter's official visit to Vietnam from August 5-7, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Thailand's parliamentary leader concludes official visit to Vietnam

Thailand attaches great importance to its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, and the two countries share a solid foundation of friendship, many common strategic interests and significant potential for cooperation, said President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Sophon Zaram.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaks at the 33rd Diplomatic Conference's closing session in Hanoi on August 7, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

33rd Diplomatic Conference wraps up in Hanoi

Foreign relations are no longer viewed simply as relations with the outside world but as an integral component of national comprehensive strength and a responsibility shared by the entire Party, people, armed forces and political system.

Lawmakers in a group discussion (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers seek legal reforms to promote telecom infrastructure data sharing

A deputy of Ha Tinh province said there is currently no clear legal basis for sharing technical infrastructure data. While the issue may be less apparent under normal circumstances, it could hamper local coordination and response during storms, floods and other disasters when detailed infrastructure data is not readily available.

Consuls general of ASEAN countries in Ho Chi Minh City show calligraphy works presented to them at the gathering on August 7. (Photo: VNA)

Get-together celebrates 59th founding anniversary of ASEAN

​Despite differences in history, culture, languages, religions, levels of development, and social conditions, ASEAN member states have chosen to respect one another, build consensus, and pursue shared regional interests. It’s the unity in diversity that has shaped ASEAN’s identity, strength, resilience, and central role in the regional architecture.

Vina Nadjibulla, former Vice President for Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (Photo; VNA)

33rd Diplomatic Conference: Vietnam's foreign policy wins praise from Canadian expert

Vina Nadjibulla, former Vice President for Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, credited pragmatic diplomacy with allowing Vietnam to build relationships with a range of partners without becoming overly dependent on any single country. That approach, she noted, has become more relevant as major-power rivalry heats up, the global economy fragments, and pressure mounts on countries to pick sides.

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung speaks at the session (Photo: VNA)

Legislators review bills to streamline administrative procedures in agriculture, environment

Presenting the draft law on amending and supplementing several articles of 10 laws concerning administrative procedures and business conditions in the agriculture and environment sector, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung said it is designed to institutionalise the Party's policy of reducing and simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions, while promoting decentralisation, innovation, and more effective state governance.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee (right) hosts a reception for Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn in Hanoi during her state visit to Vietnam in September last year (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Australia to further strenthern cooperation

The messages posted on Australian Government media platforms highlighted Australia and Vietnam as close regional partners with a long-standing friendship. This will be General Secretary and President Lam’s first visit to Australia since being appointed as President in April and it is also the first in-person meeting between the two leaders.

Lawmakers discuss bills in groups (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers mull over various bills in group debates

The legislative package includes a draft Law on Urban Development, a bill amending and supplementing several articles of 10 laws that govern administrative procedures and business conditions in agriculture and environment, and the draft Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Radio Frequencies, the Law on Telecommunications, the Law on E-Transactions, and the Law on Technology Transfer.

A flag-raising ceremony is held to mark the 58th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on August 8, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam remains active contributor to ASEAN Community Vision 2045

Vietnam's 31-year journey with ASEAN stands as compelling testimony to its strong commitment to regional integration, as well as its pioneering spirit, sense of responsibility, and proactive contributions to building a united and resilient ASEAN Community.

Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Trade Promotion Agency, addresses the seminar. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Vietnam, Netherlands seek deeper manufacturing cooperation

Manufacturing remains one of Vietnam's core industries, making a major contribution to economic growth, exports and foreign direct investment. The country has become an important production base for multinational corporations in electronics, precision engineering, electrical equipment and high-tech industries.

Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (right) receives General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army on August 6 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen political, defence ties

The Lao leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady development of bilateral ties, noting that political relations have become increasingly close, deep and trustworthy, serving as the guiding force for overall cooperation.

Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, security and strategy analyst at the University of Malaya (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia-Vietnam defence ties set for more practical cooperation: expert

According to the expert, another key outcome was the reaffirmation of the 2023 defence cooperation MoU and the Action Programme for implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the principal roadmap for future collaboration. The framework builds on existing cooperation in delegation exchanges, consultation mechanisms, military education, defence industry, and coordination within ASEAN and other multilateral forums.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaks at the networking session with business community on August 6. (Photo: VNA)

Diplomacy to accompany businesses in expanding Vietnam's development space

Opening the event, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam is entering a new era of development in which foreign affairs and international integration is a crucial and regular task, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilising external resources and enhancing the country's international standing.