On March 4 morning, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Spouse Le Thi Bich Tran and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam left Hanoi for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia dialogue relations, and official visits to Australia and New Zealand. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

The trip is made at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minsiter of New Zealand Christopher Luxon.Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leaves Hanoi for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, official visits to Australia, New Zealand. (Photo: WVR)

Joining the delegation are Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son; Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan; Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son; Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat; Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan; Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong (participating in the delegation in Australia); Deputy Minister of Defense Hoang Xuan Chien; Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang; Deputy Head of the Central Committee's Commission for External Affairs Truong Quang Hoai Nam; Ambassador of Vietnam to Australia Pham Hung Tam (participating in the delegation in Australia); Ambassador, Head of the Vietnamese Mission to ASEAN Nguyen Hai Bang (participating in the delegation in Australia); Ambassador of Vietnam to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung (participating in the delegation in New Zealand). In addition, leaders of several ministries, sectors, and localities also participate in the delegation.

The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit is an opportunity for the two sides to review the two sides’ relations over the past 50 years and discuss measures to promote the substantive, effective development of relations, in line with the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2021.

Prime Minister leaves Hanoi for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, official visits to Australia, New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Also during the working trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay official visits to Australia and New Zealand. This is the first official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Australia and New Zealand in his new position, and the Prime Minister’s first tour of the two countries after more than seven years.

The visit is expected to contribute to strengthening political trust, deepening multi-faceted cooperation, and boosting ties between Vietnam - Australia and Vietnam - New Zealand in all fields, such as politics, diplomacy, security, defence, economy, trade, investment, ODA, education - training, culture - tourism, and labour.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's working visits to Australia and New Zealand continue to actively implement the foreign policy of the 13th Party Congress, Conclusion 59-KL/TW of the Politburo on Vietnam’s orientation to participate in ASEAN until 2030, and Directive 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy until 2030.