Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong co-chaired the seventh Vietnam-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM-7) in Hanoi on August 20, reviewing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussing global and regional issues of mutual concern.
Both sides expressed delight at the extensive growth of the bilateral relationship since it was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They noted concrete progress across six pillars, driven by robust political ties, with effective all-level visits, regular exchanges, and maintained bilateral cooperation mechanisms. These include the first Senior Officials’ Dialogue between the two foreign ministries in August 2025 and the 10th Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue (2+2) held the same month.
Building on encouraging results such as recent market openings (Australia allowing imports of Vietnamese passion fruit and Vietnam accepting Australian plums), and a 2.3% rise in bilateral trade in 2024, the two ministers promised to boost trade and investment ties, reaffirming a shared goal of lifting two-way trade to 20 billion USD and doubling investment under the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES).
Deputy PM Son welcomed Australia’s rollout of its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 in Vietnam, and urged breakthroughs in sci-tech and innovation cooperation, including joint studies.
He praised Australia’s increased ODA commitment, including a 50 million AUD package for practical initiatives and projects across the Mekong sub-region.
Wong expressed a hope for Vietnam to continue facilitating Australian business activities, especially in hi-tech. She proposed expanding collaboration in areas of Australia’s strength, like climate change, green growth, energy transition, digital transformation and innovation. She pledged that Australia would continue to support Vietnam in developing new and green technologies, energy and digital infrastructure, alongside human capital training through official development assistance (ODA) and investment.
On global and regional issues of shared concern, the two sides pledged to step up coordination for the sake of regional peace, stability and cooperation. They committed to closer collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations and ASEAN.
Wong stressed that Australia values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN and supports the bloc’s central role in regional affairs. She also reaffirmed Canberra’s commitment to cooperation in advancing sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region.
On the East Sea issue, both sides underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, and respecting international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They agreed to issue a joint press statement on the meeting’s outcomes and exchange diplomatic notes to establish a policy consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries.
In the afternoon the same day, both officials toured the Vietnam National Museum of History in Hanoi./.
