Australian Governor-General’s Vietnam visit to create new impulse for bilateral ties: NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) meets Governor-General of Australia David Hurley in Australia in November, last year. (Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Hong Hai, a researcher at the Centre for Policy Futures under the University of Queensland, said the visit, in the context of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (February 26, 1973) and the 5th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership (March 15, 2018) in 2023, demonstrates the importance Australia attaches to the milestones, as well as and the consensus in enhancing high-level meetings and contacts, thus consolidating the mutual political trust.

During his visit, Governor-General of Australia Hurley is scheduled to meet with top leaders of Vietnam, hold talks with President Vo Van Thuong, and meetings with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the researcher said, adding that NA Chairman Hue also met the Governor-General in his visit to Australia four months ago, during which the leaders expressed their support for upgrading the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Governor-General of Australia Hurley’s trip is also hoped to contribute to enhancing people-to-people exchange and send a message to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the region at large that Australia pays great attention to its relations with Vietnam and ASEAN.

The message is quite clear – Vietnam holds a special position in Australia’s relations with the region – Hai said, citing former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as saying during his visit to Vietnam in 2019 that Vietnam was a close friend.

The researcher noted his belief that the visit will contribute to strengthening the bilateral relations and opening up strong cooperation prospects between the two countries, while creating more foundations and momentum for them to soon achieve the goal of advancing the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership this year.

Moreover, the visit would give a boost to collaboration in other spheres like national defence and security, along with innovation, climate change response, energy transition, green energy and green economy, he said.