Multifaceted Cooperation between Vietnam and Australia to be Further Developed

Vietnam and Australia officially established diplomatic relations on 26^th February 1973. Over the past 35 years, the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Australia have rapidly developed, recorded many positive achievements and are currently entering a new phase of development with great potential that the two countries have never before experienced.

 

The political relations between the two countries have been enhanced, especially through increased contacts and exchanges of high-level leaders. From the beginning of this year, the two countries have had many high-level visits, including the visits to Australia by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong and the visits to Vietnam by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith and Queensland’s Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel. Mechanisms of cooperation and consultation between ministries and departments of the two countries have been intensified in a more effective manner.

Bilateral trade and investment cooperation has been accelerated. At present, Australia is the seventh largest trading partner of Vietnam and the fourth largest market for Vietnamese exports with a two-way trade volume of nearly US$ 3.6 billion in the first 7 months of this year (or 80 percent of the total trade of 2007). Australia is also one of the biggest and most successful investors in Vietnam. By May 2008, Australia has had 174 investment projects with total registered capital of US$ 1.014 billion, ranking 17^th among foreign investors in Vietnam.

 

Vietnam currently ranks fourth among countries receiving ODA from Australia, worth 93.1 million Australian dollars, an increase of 1.3 million Australian dollars compared with last year. All ODA projects from Australia have been effectively implemented, contributing to Vietnam’s efforts to reduce poverty, eradicate hunger, develop rural areas and improve health-care and environmental conditions. My Thuan Bridge is a symbol of Vietnam - Australia friendship.

 

Cooperation in education and training is a highlight in the bilateral relations. To date, there are about ten thousand Vietnamese students and post-graduates studying in Australia and thousands more in Australian training centres in Vietnam.

 

Besides, the two sides continue to expand cooperation in other fields such as tourism, transport, health-care, labour, agriculture, science and technology and environmental protection.

 

The two countries have cooperated closely both within bilateral and multilateral frameworks. Vietnam has been working closely with Australia and ASEAN member countries to consolidate and promote the ASEAN-Australia comprehensive partnership. The two sides’ cooperation within the framework of other forums such as East Asia Summit (EAS), APEC and the United Nations has been developing on a deeper and more effective basis.

 

Given the fine development of the two countries’ relations, the upcoming visit by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Australia from 13-14 October is an important milestone in consolidating and elevating the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. This is also a good opportunity for the two sides’ leaders to exchange views to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially to facilitate the exchange, market exploration, partnership establishment and business cooperation of the two countries’ businesses for common benefits.

 

As there remains a bright prospect and great potential for the two countries’ cooperation, and based on the achievements recorded by the two countries’ Governments and peoples during the last 35 years, we strongly believe that the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Australia will be further developed, meeting the expectation by the two Governments and peoples, thus making positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

 

The Vietnamese community living abroad in general and the Vietnamese community in Australia in particular are an integral part and a source of strength of the Vietnamese nation. There are about 250,000 Vietnamese people residing in Australia, the 4^th biggest foreign community in the country. This is a young community with a stable life, integrating into the host’s society and initially affirming its position and contributing to Australia’s socio-economic life. They always turn towards their motherland.  

Vietnam attaches great importance to the overseas Vietnamese community, including our fellow citizens in Australia. In recent years, a variety of overseas Vietnamese businessmen and intellectuals have come back to Vietnam from Australia for conducting investment, research and teaching activities. Vietnam highly appreciates the vast potential of our overseas fellow citizens in economic, science and technology and the Vietnamese Australian community’s contributions to constructing, developing their motherland and their role in building the bridge of sound friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese and Australian peoples.

 

The State of Vietnam will continue to improve its legal framework to protect and facilitate overseas Vietnamese people, businessmen and intellectuals in coming back to Vietnam for visiting their families, and doing business and investment for the cause of national construction. There are many reasons for our fellow citizens to return to their motherland, namely (1) political and social stability, fast economic growth and higher position of Vietnam in the international arena in recent years that actively impact the overseas Vietnamese community and make them proud of their homeland; (2) the issuance and implementation of the State of Vietnam’s policies in relation to overseas Vietnamese such as Resolution No. 36 of the Politburo on overseas Vietnamese affairs dated March 26, 2004, the Government’s Plan of Action for overseas Vietnamese dated June 2004 and, most recently, Instruction No. 19 of the Prime Minister to enhance the work on overseas Vietnamese affairs dated 6 June 2008. The policy is highly appreciated by a large number of overseas Vietnamese and has an active influence on their sentiments, thus encouraging them to further tighten the close relationship with their motherland.

 

The growing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Australia will be a tremendous support for the Vietnamese community in Australia. In addition, the solidarity and success of the Vietnamese community will positively contribute to the Vietnam-Australia friendship and cooperation. On this occasion, I would like to wish a stronger and expanded friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Australia for the benefits of the two peoples and for the sake of peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific. I also wish the Vietnamese living and working in Australia more success, solidarity and successful integration in life there, and to contribute to the construction and development of Vietnam, our home country.

 

Thank you very much!