Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie (Photo: VNA) Reporter: After two years working in Vietnam, how do you feelabout the country and people here? What plans do you have for the 2022 LunarNew Year?
Ambassador Robyn Mudie: I’ve been the Ambassador here since July 2019, butthis is my second time in Hanoi and at the Embassy - I was also here in themid-90s as a junior diplomat.
Vietnam has changed a lot over that time, but one of the things thathas remained consistent is the country’s determination and commitment toprogress, including the drive to be a proactive member of the internationalcommunity. This determination is also reflected in the Vietnamese people, whosewarmth and resilience, even in the face of adversity, is heartening andwelcoming.
I was also delighted to be able to return to discover more of thisfascinating country. It has so many layers of beauty and culture to uncover. Ihaven’t travelled as much as I would have liked due to the COVID-19restrictions but even exploring Hanoi again has been wonderful.
Overall, it’s been a pleasure to be back here.
As for Tet - I love Tet! It’s a beautiful time of year in Hanoi andthere’s something very special, and uniquely Vietnamese, about the Tetatmosphere.
This year, I am looking forward to once again decorating our house withkumquat trees and peach blossoms, sampling banh chung, and exploring the oldstreets and temples in the old quarter. I will also try to visit the flowermarkets to see the beautiful blossom trees and to talk to the flower sellers.It’s a good opportunity to practice my Vietnamese language and to find out moreabout the culture and the Tet celebrations.
It’s my last Tet in Vietnam, as I finish my posting in the summer, so Iwant to make the most of every moment.
Reporter: How do you evaluate the Australia-Vietnam cooperationin 2021, especially in the context of COVID-19 epidemic?
Ambassador Robyn Mudie: The Strategic Partnership between Australia andVietnam is one of strength and depth, from our people-to-people links, to ourtrade and investment ties, and to our shared interests in a secure andprosperous Indo Pacific. Despite the global health challenge of COVID-19, thebilateral relationship has continued on a positive trajectory.
As a close friend and partner, Australia stands with Vietnam in itsfight against COVID-19 as it continues to protect its people and boost economicrecovery. Access to safe and effective vaccines is critical to these effortsand to ending the pandemic. I am extremely proud that Australia is working inpartnership with the Government of Vietnam to help support Vietnam’s COVID-19vaccine rollout.
The Australian Government has committed to share 7.8 million COVID-19vaccine doses with Vietnam. We havealready delivered 3.7 million doses from Australia’s own supply, with theremainder due to arrive in the coming months.
Australia also recognises that vaccinations require more than justdoses. Planning, administration, equipment, distribution, and training to getvaccine doses in arms as quickly as possible through national rollouts arecritical to the success of vaccination programs. That is why we have committed 60 million AUD for a comprehensive package of support for Vietnam’s COVID-19vaccine rollout, which includes support for doses as well as for vaccinefridges, communications support and training for health care workers.
More broadly, Australia is supporting Vietnam’s response to COVID-19 throughour Partnerships for Recovery development policy. Our total developmentcooperation funding to Vietnam is forecast to be 78.9 million AUD in 2021-22 andour efforts are focused on three key objectives that are important for allcountries as we emerge from the pandemic: health security, stability andeconomic recovery.
Reporter: The Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership has beendeveloping well both in depth and breadth in various fields, especially tradeand investment promotion. What do you expect from the relationship in the nearfuture?
Ambassador Robyn Mudie: Australia and Vietnam have highly complementaryeconomies. Australia is a reliable supplier of the services and raw materialsthat Vietnam’s exporters require, and Australian consumers enjoy Vietnam’shigh-quality products in their homes and workplaces. There is enormouspotential to take the relationship even further as we emerge from COVID-19.
In the strongest reflection yet of the confidence in our sharedeconomic future, on 21 December the governments of Australia and Vietnampublicly released the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy(EEES) to unlock significant opportunities for businesses across the twocountries. The EEES is unique, the first of its kind for Vietnam and Australiaand reflective of both countries’ mutual interests.
To support Australian and Vietnam businesses, the EEES outlines aseries of mutually beneficial, practical initiatives to deepen trade andinvestment links in key sectors including across agriculture, education,energy, services and the digital economy. It also highlights the importance ofstrengthening the rules-based global trading system as the basis for openinternational trade and working together to address economic challenges andcoercive economic practices.
Recognising that business and industry will be critical in taking the economicrelationship to the next level, an early outcome of the EEES is the appointmentof Business Champions – industry leaders to accelerate business engagement,trade and investment between Vietnam and Australia. There are also other earlyinitiatives including 28 projects awarded under the Australia-Vietnam EnhancedEconomic Engagement Grant (AVEG) Pilot Program, which support practicalimplementation of the strategy.
Increased engagement and cooperation are vitalfor our and the region’s economic recovery. The EEES will help guide our twocountries on an inclusive and sustainable growth path and foster even deeperties between Australia and Vietnam.
Reporter: Thank you so much for your interview!
VNA
