Warmly welcoming the visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his delegation, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue assessed the visit as having important significance on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (1973-2023).

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: TUAN HUY

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was pleased to meet again and thanked National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue for his warm welcome; and announced a successful meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges and high-level contacts, across the Party, National Assembly and Government channels, enhance people-to-people exchanges; effectively implement the Plan to implement the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES) between the two countries for the 2021-2025 period...

At the meeting, expressing their delight at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the building of strategic trust and close cooperation in many fields over the past time, the two leaders believed that with the efforts of the two countries, upgrading the relationship to a new level in the future will soon be realized.

Based on the excellent political and diplomatic relations between the two countries and the very specific results that the two sides achieved in the talks on the morning of June 4 between the two Prime Ministers, the National Assembly Chairman expressed his agreement with the Australian Prime Minister's opinion that the two countries still have a lot of room to strengthen cooperation. Based on free trade agreements, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)..., the two countries can increase cooperation in trade and investment.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the meeting. Photo: TUAN HUY

In particular, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that, in addition to maintaining existing supply chains, the two countries should cooperate to create new supply chains to diversify each other's markets. The Vietnamese National Assembly supports the two countries in strengthening trade and investment cooperation; and hopes to have more Australian investors invest in production and business in Vietnam.

The National Assembly Chairman announced that at the ongoing fifth session, the Vietnamese National Assembly will consider and decide on 20 draft laws, including many related to improving the economic, trade and investment environment. The Vietnamese National Assembly is considering and facilitating visas not only for Vietnamese citizens but also for citizens of other countries, contributing to promoting cooperation in trade, investment and tourism.

Appreciating the results of cooperation in education and training between the two countries, the National Assembly Chairman recalled that during his official visit to Australia in December 2022, universities of the two countries signed 12 cooperation agreements. The National Assembly Chairman welcomed RMIT University to increase investment and expand cooperation in Vietnam according to the cooperation agreement; welcomed the opening of the Vietnam-Australia Center at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, believing that the operation of the Center will contribute to improving the capacity of Vietnamese leaders and managers.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the meeting. Photo: TUAN HUY

On this occasion, the National Assembly Chairman thanked the Australian Government for sponsoring the General Course on Climate Change and Energy for National Assembly deputies and staff of the Office of the Vietnamese National Assembly.

Vietnam always respects and appreciates Australia's role in the region and the international arena. Emphasizing this, the National Assembly Chairman expressed his hope that Australia would continue to support the views of ASEAN and Vietnam on the East Sea issue.

On this occasion, the National Assembly Chairman sincerely thanked and hoped that the Australian Government and the Prime Minister personally would continue to pay attention, support and create conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate and contribute more and more to the socio-economic development of the two countries as well as to the relationship between the two countries.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highly appreciated ASEAN's central role in the region; he said that the relationship between the two countries will develop even stronger in the future as bilateral trade turnover in 2022 increased by 30% compared to 2021, reflecting the dynamism of economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Australian Prime Minister said that the relationship between Australia and Vietnam has been increasingly strengthened, demonstrated by the results of cooperation in many fields in recent years. Regarding the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference hosted by the Vietnamese National Assembly, the Prime Minister affirmed that he will promote the sending of an Australian parliamentary delegation to Hanoi to attend this coming September.

View of the meeting. Photo: TUAN HUY

Since the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed supply chain issues, the Australian Prime Minister has highlighted the importance and necessity of self-reliance; Australia announced a 105 million Australian dollar support package for Vietnam for cooperation on infrastructure, climate change response and energy transition. RMIT University has announced the next phase of its commitment to invest in education, research and cooperation in Vietnam, including a 250 million Australian dollar strategic investment fund...

Vietnam is the country with the fifth largest number of international students in Australia and Australia is the second destination for Vietnamese students. Emphasizing this, the Australian Prime Minister said that RMIT University is a typical example of educational and training cooperation between the two countries; emphasizing that the cooperation in the field of education and training will develop even more strongly in the future.

Taking note of the National Assembly Chairman's comments on organizing more seminars, meetings to share experiences in adapting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, promoting cooperation at the Government and local levels of the two countries, emphasizing the important role of exchanges and enhancing understanding between Parliamentarians and the National Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that he would contribute to promoting more positive results in the spirit of encouraging cooperation between localities.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated the Vietnam Women's National Football Team on reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in history.

WIN