Vietnam, Australia forge economic ties, towards sustainable recovery post pandemic hinh anh 1Tran Tuan Anh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, hosts a reception for Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan in Hanoi on July 13. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Australia should work to soon finalise and sign their Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy this year, towards sustainable recovery post pandemic, a Vietnamese Party official has said.

Tran Tuan Anh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, made the suggestion during his meeting with Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan in Hanoi on July 13.

The two countries would become one of the top ten trade partners of each other, he further suggested.

Anh said he hopes that the minister will contribute to strengthening the bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, matching the potential and the fruitful relationship between the two countries.

He proposed the two sides optimise opportunities and benefits generated by multilateral free trade agreements to which both Vietnam and Australia are signatories, such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The Vietnamese Party and State always attach importance to enhancing the strategic partnership with Australia intensively, extensively and pragmatically, he affirmed, adding that the bilateral cooperation is thriving across spheres.

Anh used the occasion to thank the Australian Government for its supply of 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam, and called on the Australian side to prioritise Vietnam in accessing AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Australia as soon as possible.

Minister Tehan, for his part, said he was impressed by Vietnam’s vision and outcomes in economic development and pandemic containment.

Australia will continue its close coordination with Vietnam to promote the bilateral cooperation, especially in economy, trade and investment, in the time ahead, while pushing ahead with the implementation of plans realising the 2021-2025 Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy./.
VNA