The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) on January 22 hosted a get-together to celebrate Australia Day (January 26).

Ngo Thi Phuong Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of Ho Chi Minh
City’s Vietnam - Australia Friendship Association, reviews the Vietnam-Australia
relations at the get-together. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the event, Ngo Thi Phuong Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam - Australia Friendship Association noted with satisfaction the fine development of the cooperative ties between the two countries.

The comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Australia has developed strongly in all areas, from politics to economics, trade, investment, security-defense, culture, education, tourism, especially since it was lifted to the strategic partnership in 2018, Thien noted.

She expressed hope HUFO and her organization will receive continued support from the Australian Consulate General, the Australian Business Association and other Australian organisations to enhance people-to-people exchange, as well as cultural, sports, tourism cooperation in order to further strengthen the friendship between the two sides.

Julianne Cowley, Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that the two countries have developed a close bond in many fields such as education, development assistance, trade, investment.

Australia is proud to receive many Vietnamese students to come and study while thousands of students choose to study Australian programmes right in Vietnam, she said, adding that more than 80,000 Vietnamese alumni who have studied in Australia serve to strengthen friendship between the two countries.

The diplomat voiced her commitment to work closely with HCM City agencies, including HUFO, in carrying out development and cooperation programmes, thereby bringing mutual benefits to the two peoples.