VGP – Ms. Marise Payne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women of Australia said Viet Nam-Australia relations have been built and developed based on an important foundation of trust.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes Ms. Marise Payne, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women of Australia at the Government Office
in Ha Noi on June 13, 2019. Photo: VGP

Australia looks for stronger ties with VN bilaterally and multilaterally 

Payne, who is on two-day visit to Viet Nam, made the statement when she was received by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Government Office on Thursday.

The two countries have maintained strong trust in each other and shared numerous strategic interests and priorities, emphasized Payne, adding that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attaches importance to cooperation with Viet Nam.

She congratulated Viet Nam as a new non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which she said reflecting the increasingly important position of Viet Nam on the international arena.

Australia is ready to back Viet Nam’s efforts in implementing development priorities such as infrastructure development and cyber-security, Payne affirmed.

Earlier on June 12, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and
Ms. Marise Payne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women of Australia sign
a Memorandum of Understanding on empowering women in diplomacy after
the pair's talks at the Government Guesthouse. Photo: VGP

Meanwhile, PM Phuc extended congratulations to his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison over his election as new Prime Minister of Australia last May and to Payne who was re-appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs cum Minister for Women of Australia.

Phuc highly valued contributions of Ms. Payne to advancing the Viet Nam-Australia strategic partnership in both roles as current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense earlier as well as her decision to visit Viet Nam as one of first countries since she undertook new role.

He hailed the fine development of the bilateral ties over the past years, in which two-way trade rose 19.3% to US$7.7 billion in 2018 and Australia has poured more than US$1.84 billion in investment capital, ranking 19th out of 128 foreign investors in Viet Nam.

Both sides should soon review the 2016-2019 action program for implementation of the Viet Nam-Australia strategic partnership and design new program to further deepen ties across fields in the next stage, suggested Phuc.

He also spoke highly of effective collaboration and coordination between the two countries at regional fora, especially the UN, ASEAN-Australia, ASEAN plus mechanisms, calling for Australia’s continued support for Viet Nam as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 tenure.

Regarding the East Sea, PM Phuc appreciated Australia’s position, wishing Australia to continue strong voice and support for the viewpoints of ASEAN and Viet Nam in this issue.