The Vietnam - Australia relationship has been growing strongly in all areas, with Australia’s stable and sustainable trade and investment in Vietnam in recent years. On the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2013; the Vietnam Business Forum interviewed H.E Hugh Borrowman, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, about the cooperation between the two countries over the past time. Doan Tien reports.
Would you please tell us about the achievements of bilateral cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in the past years and especially for the past 5 years, as the two countries are members of WTO?
Australia and Vietnam have reached a significant milestone this year– the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. The relationship has come a long way in that time.
Trade
Australia is a creative and innovative trade and investment partner for Vietnam. Australia was supportive of Vietnam’s WTO membership and actively engages through the Beyond WTO program to help Vietnam make further progress.
Our two-way trade has been at the core of the remarkable growth in our relations, with Vietnam and Australia among each other’s most important and valued trade partners in the Asia Pacific region: our combined goods and services trade stands at over $6 billion per annum.
Australia and Vietnam are both parties to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and are negotiating partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Australia is ranked 21st in overall foreign direct investment in Vietnam – though this ranking does not reflect recent significant expansions by Australian companies already operating here. Prominent Australian investors include ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, QBE, RMIT, Santos, Qantas, BlueScope Steel, Interflour and Strategic Marine.
Science and Education
Australia is a smart, creative country that offers world-class education. Australia is also a leading study destination for Vietnamese students, with 20,000 students studying in Australia and a further 16,000 studying in Australian programs here in Vietnam.
Australian education is also delivered in Vietnam. RMIT Vietnam has now turned out more than 4,000 graduates with Australian qualifications. Australian qualifications are increasingly delivered in partnership with Vietnamese institutions, allowing more Vietnamese students to benefit from an Australian education. The University of Queensland, La Trobe, Swinburne and Box Hill Institute have all entered into long-standing, mutually beneficial education partnerships in Vietnam.
Australia's open social and political culture, advanced education system and investment in scientific research encourage innovation and inventiveness, and we want to develop our cooperation with Vietnam in these important fields for the future.
Australia is an inclusive and multicultural society that values the traditions, cultures and contributions of people from all backgrounds, including Indigenous people, and the Vietnamese community in Australia.
Aid
Australia is providing strong support toward the achievement of Vietnam’s national development goals through the aid program.
Australia is one of the largest providers of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam. Australia’s ODA for Vietnam reached AUD$150.4 million in the financial year of 2012-2013.
Australia is working hard to help Vietnam build the infrastructure it needs to reach its potential. Following on from our funding of the My Thuan Bridge, completed in 2000, we have committed to our biggest aid project yet in Vietnam – a $160 million contribution to the design and construction of the Cao Lanh Bridge, due to commence construction in 2013. This bridge will link five million people to markets across the Mekong Delta and into greater South East Asia.
Australia has provided support to collaborative research in agriculture, forestry and fisheries for 20 years, helping improve food quality and incomes for millions of Vietnamese people.
Australia continues to be a leading provider of scholarships to Vietnam through the Australia Awards, which include opportunities for study, research and professional development. Some 4,000 scholarships for Vietnam have been offered over the past 40 years. Vietnam has reason to be very proud of its high success rate in earning prestigious Australian scholarships through open competition. The Australia Awards now also enable Australians to come to Vietnam for study, research and professional development, and the Australian government wants to see more Australian students here.
Law Enforcement
Australia and Vietnam have a strong record of working together to improve our ability to respond to transnational challenges such as transnational crime, narcotics and people smuggling. This cooperation is exemplified by the Joint Transnational Crime Centre established in HCMC by the Vietnamese Police with support from the Australian Federal Police.
So, which fields of cooperation have not achieved the results expected by the Government and people of the two countries, and why?
The Australia in the Asian Century White Paper released by the Australian Government last October is focused on Australia becoming more deeply integrated into the Asian economy. We would like to see more Vietnamese products and investors in Australia and also more Australian products and businesses in Vietnam. Progress in this area will, however, depend in large measure on Vietnamese policy decisions and actions. We wish to further strengthen our strong education ties so that more Vietnamese can study in Australia and also, more Australians can come to Vietnam for study. We also hope that the coming years will see significant development in other areas of cooperation, including climate change, anti-corruption, people smuggling and human rights.
In the course of your working term in Vietnam, what is your impression about life and people in Vietnam, and can you share of your thoughts?
I’m always impressed by the forward looking optimism and good humour of the Vietnamese people. Vietnam has made tremendous advances over the last few decades, lifting millions of its citizens out of poverty and becoming an important and influential member of the regional and international community. Vietnam’s population is young, educated and ambitious for a better future. With the right policy settings, it is within their grasp.
Could you please tell us about the 40 year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia in 2013, what plans does the Australian Government have for the occasion, in Vietnam as well as in Australia, to further strengthen the relationship of two countries?
The program of events for the 40th anniversary of Diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam aims to highlight the deep, broad and growing relationship between the two countries.
Australia and Vietnam have a 40-year partnership marked by friendship and cooperation in many areas. The relationship continues to grow and has a bright future.
I encourage all readers to participate in the exciting program of events we’re planning to celebrate the anniversary next year. The program will showcase Australia’s creativity and diversity, and create a platform for future exchange and collaboration, which is in line with the White Paper objectives to build stronger, deeper and broader cultural links with Asian nations
Pat Farmer, an Australian endurance runner and former Member of Parliament, kicked off the celebrations when he started a 3000 kilometre run through Vietnam in December 2012. Major events next year will include a tour by the contemporary dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre and a Questacon science exhibition. The program of activities will showcase Australian culture, creativity and scientific knowledge.
We’ve set up an ‘Australia in Vietnam’ Facebook page to share information about the program and Australia’s activities in Vietnam more broadly. I encourage you to visit our page and ‘like’ us!
Thank you very much!
Vietnamese
