On June 4, as part of the official visit to Vietnam by the Australian Prime Minister, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese witnessed an exchange of cooperation documents and the opening of two direct flights between the two countries.

The documents include an MoUs between the MoST, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and Australia's DFAT on cooperation in science, technology and innovation and the establishment of a Ministerial Dialogue on Trade between Vietnam and Australia.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy signed the MoU on behalf of the leaders of the MoST. The MoU will facilitate the exchange of information about typical activities in science, technology and innovation, and identify ideas and mutual interests to strengthen innovation partnerships including activities under the Vietnam - Australia Innovation Partnership Programme (Aus4Innovation).

The Australian government attaches great importance to investment and support for scientific research and innovation activities, and this is clearly reflected in the National Science and Innovation Strategy (2016) of Australia. Vietnam is one of 17 countries on Australia's cooperation priority list. The Strategy for Strengthening Economic Cooperation between Australia and Vietnam has provided a potential opportunity for cooperation between Australian and Vietnamese organisations in science, technology and innovation. In particular, knowledge and innovation is one of the main pillars of the bilateral strategic partnership between the two nations.

Vietnam's Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation Development emphasises sci-tech innovation as the top national policy and a main driving force for growth and breakthroughs in productivity, quality and efficiency.

The Aus4Innovation scheme was announced within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Week. It directs support to Vietnam in particular, increasing innovation capacity and helping the country to prepare for opportunities associated with Industrial Revolution 4.0.

The initiative is funded by the DFAT, with assistance from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation of Australia, and is implemented in partnership with the MoST.

With the signing of this MoU, this new relationship between Vietnam and Australia should reap new sci-tech benefits, showing the way for increased cooperation in promoting socioeconomic development between the two countries.