Vietnamese, Australian Deputy FMs talks joint work amid COVID-19
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dung on April 6 held phone talks
with acting Australian Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the SOM Australia on
ASEAN and East Asia Summit (EAS) Justin Hayhurst to discuss joint work via
regional cooperation mechanisms amid the complicated developments of COVID-19.
Dung expressed
wish to enhance close coordination to further deepen strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and Australia.
He emphasised
that fighting COVID-19 is now the top priority of ASEAN, adding that in the
capacity as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam is actively promoting common efforts of the
bloc and cooperation with partners in the fight against the pandemic.
Speaking highly
of Vietnam’s role and efforts in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, Hayhurst said Australia will continue supporting and working closely with
Vietnam to step up the anti-COVID-19 fight via regional cooperation mechanisms,
including ASEAN – Australia cooperation and the EAS.
The two officials
agreed to maintain the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership in various
areas.
Dung thanked the
Australian Government for readiness to offer technical support to Vietnam to
mitigate socio-economic impacts caused by COVID-19. He suggested the Australian
authorities continue supporting Vietnamese citizens and students in current
difficult times.
Hayhurst, for his
part, thanked the Vietnamese Government for providing medical and consular
support for Australian citizens and tourists
affected by the epidemic.
He affirmed that
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will work with education and interior
ministries and authorities to have measures to support Vietnamese students in
Australia./.