Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced a significant enhancement of the Australia – Vietnam relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership on March 5.
This partnership is founded on strategic trust, mutual respect, and common aspirations. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.
The landmark comprehensive strategic partnership will facilitate expanded collaboration in areas such as climate, environment, energy, digital transformation, and innovation, building upon existing cooperation in defense, security, economics, and education.
The leaders acknowledged various new initiatives within this partnership.
A new Peacekeeping Partnership Arrangement, unveiled by the leaders, will reinforce Australia’s support for Vietnam’s peacekeeping endeavors, including its participation in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. This agreement exemplifies how Indo-Pacific partners can collaborate to promote global peace and security. Additionally, the leaders agreed to elevate the Australia-Vietnam Security Dialogue to ministerial level to enhance cooperation on law enforcement matters.
To enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries, the prime ministers welcomed new collaboration in agriculture aimed at facilitating trade in new commodities. They also applauded initiatives enabling 1,000 Vietnamese workers to contribute to the agricultural sector in rural and regional Australia, along with a new agreement between agencies responsible for trade and investment promotion.
Education has long been a cornerstone of the Australia-Vietnam relationship, fostering strong bonds between their peoples. A renewed cooperation framework between Australian and Vietnamese educational institutions will enhance collaboration in early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary education, nurturing the workforce needed to seize future opportunities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked, “It is a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Chinh to Australia following my visit to Vietnam last year. Australia and Vietnam share an ambitious agenda encompassing climate change, sustainability, digital transformation, innovation, defense and security, economics and trade, and education. This new comprehensive strategic partnership underscores our collaboration, strategic trust, and shared aspirations for our region. There is tremendous potential to be realized through closer ties between Australia and Vietnam.”