The agreement was reached at the fifth Vietnam – Australia Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Hanoi on August 22 and co-chaired by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his visiting Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

The two sides shared the view that over the past five decades the relations between Vietnam and Australia have developed substantially and recorded important achievements on the back of a high level of political trust and effective cooperation in various fields, including security and defense, as well as UN peacekeeping.

Economic-trade cooperation is a major pillar in bilateral relations, with two-way trade turnover reaching nearly US$16 billion last year, making Vietnam the 10th largest trading partner of Australia, and Australia the seventh largest trading partner of Vietnam.

The two countries are also increasing cooperation in new cooperation fields, such as climate change and energy transition. During the April 2023 visit to Vietnam by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australia announced a support package of AUD105 million for Vietnam to build infrastructure to respond to climate change and develop clean energy.

Both Son and Wong highly appreciated the close coordination and cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, especially in arranging the exchange of high-ranking delegations, including the visits to Vietnam by Australian Governor-General David Hurley in April 2023 and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in June 2023.

An overview of the fifth Vietnam - Australia Foreign Ministers meeting in Hanoi on August 22. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

The two sides agreed to work closely together to successfully celebrate 50 years of Vietnam – Australia diplomatic relations this year, focusing on effectively implementing high-level agreements, including a plan on the upgrade of the two countries’ relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced during the Australia visit by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in December 2022, while arranging high-level visits in the coming time as well as implementing existing cooperation mechanisms.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, and agreed to strengthen coordination between the two countries, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Wong voiced Australia’s strong support for the central role of ASEAN and the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region through cooperation.

Exchanging views on the East Sea issue, the two Ministers affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the regional waters, in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two sides also agreed to continue to support each country’s candidacies at regional and international organizations and forums, especially the United Nations.

Source: VOV