Official welcome ceremony for Australia's Governor-General

President Tran Dai Quang hosted an official welcome ceremony for Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his wife at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 24.

The Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his wife on May 23 started a four-day State visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang. The visit takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (February 26) and bilateral ties are developing strongly, with a milestone being the elevation of ties to the level of strategic partnership in March 2018. 

The visit also affirms Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations as well as the great importance that Vietnam attaches to promoting friendship and strategic partnership with Australia.

President Tran Dai Quang hosted an official welcome ceremony for Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his wife at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 24.
President Tran Dai Quang hosted an official welcome ceremony for Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his wife at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 24.

Australia considers Vietnam a key partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highly values its role in the bloc.

The two countries have cooperated effectively in the field of security and defence through the exchange of delegations and cooperation agreements on counter-crimes, immigration management, illegal migration prevention, information and experience sharing, and English training.

The two countries have coordinated closely at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit (EAS), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, and the United Nations (UN).

Over the past 45 years, Vietnam and Australia have focused on cooperation in economy and trade. Australia is now the eighth biggest trade partner of Vietnam. Two-way trade records annual average growth of over 7%, reaching nearly US$6.5 billion in 2017, a year-on-year rise of 22.2%.

President Tran Dai Quang hosted an official welcome ceremony for Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his wife at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 24.
President Tran Dai Quang hosted an official welcome ceremony for Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his wife at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 24.

Australia now ranks 20th among 126 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 412 investment projects worth US$1.8 billion, focusing on industry and construction, processing industry, services, education, and agro-forestry-fisheries.

Vietnam is running 44 investment projects in Australia with total capital of US$387.1 million, concentrating on processing and manufacturing industry, arts, entertainment, mining and services.

The official development assistance (ODA) constitutes an important factor in enhancing the bilateral relationship. Australia is one of the biggest providers of non-refundable ODA for Vietnam, averagely AUD92.7 million in the 2013-2018 period, helping the Southeast Asian country with poverty reduction, especially in the Mekong Delta.

Australia plans to provide an additional AUD84.2 million in ODA for Vietnam in 2018-2019, focusing on economic reform, capacity enhancement, gender equality, and livelihood improvement.

Bilateral cooperation in tourism, education and science-technology is also growing. In 2017, Vietnam welcomed nearly 370,500 Australian visitors, up 15.5% against the previous year.

Regarding education, Australia is providing nearly 100 scholarships annually for Vietnamese students. Around 30,000 Vietnamese students and postgraduates are studying in Australia at present.

VNA/VOV

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.