Vietnamese, Australian parliamentary leaders hold talks

-National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith have applauded the more trustworthy political ties and high-level delegation exchange as a way of consolidating political trust and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Australia.
vietnamese, australian parliamentary leaders hold talks hinh 0
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan holds talks with Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith.

Talks were held between National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith in Hanoi on July 23 immediately after a welcome ceremony for the latter.

The top Vietnamese legislator highlighted the Vietnam visit by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia as a great success and an important milestone for further developing the two countries’ strategic partnership in observance of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Tony Smith said this is his first visit to Vietnam with the aim of further promoting activities of the two legislative bodies as well as links between the two countries through high-level exchange visits.

Regarding trade and investment, Australia is now one of Vietnam's leading trade and investment partners with annual trade turnover expanding by over 7%, reaching nearly US$6.5 billion in 2017 and US$3.62 billion in the first half of this year.

With 416 investment projects worth US$1.8 billion, the Oceanic country ranks 20th out 126 countries and territories having investment in Vietnam. The Vietnamese NA leader highly appreciated Australia's continued facilitation of Vietnam’s farm produce.

According to House Speaker Tony Smith, Australia now has many successful businesses in the field of agriculture and is looking forward to furthering this goal in the future. He expressed a desire to learn more about Vietnam's agricultural sector.

Ngan said the Vietnamese side supports Australian businesses in increasing their investments in the country, especially in the fields of Vietnam’s high demand such as energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, finance- banking, mining, manufacturing, high-tech agriculture, education, and tourism.

She praised Australia’s continued priority given to ODA funding for Vietnam. In particular, the inauguration of Cao Lanh Bridge on May 27 is seen as evidence of Australia’s effective support for the socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

Ngan asked Australia to continue supporting the areas of Vietnam's needs such as infrastructure, agricultural and rural development, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation and high-quality human resource development.

The two NA leaders agreed that in terms of defense and security, the two countries' relations have become more and more substantial, reliable and stable, especially closer coordination in their participation in the UN peacekeeping forces, anti-terrorism and transnational crime, and English training.

Ngan welcomed Australia navy ships’ continued goodwill visits to Vietnam as a way to strengthen the capacity of the Vietnamese coast guard. She said she hopes Australia supports Vietnam in bomb and landmine clearance, providing information on missing Vietnamese soldiers as agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015.

vietnamese, australian parliamentary leaders hold talks hinh 1
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith (third from left).

Concerning the East Sea situation, both sides voiced support for and agreed on the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region, and settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

They emphasized culture, tourism and education as important aspects that have seen positive developments to promote people-to-people exchange. Students and businesspeople are able to become "ambassadors" in the two countries’ diplomatic relations, they added.

Ngan and her Australian guest also expressed their elation at the relationship between the two legislatures, which has been constantly growing steadily based on signed agreements between the two nations, delegation exchange at all levels, experience sharing in parliamentary activities, increased understanding and tightened bilateral cooperation, regular meetings, close coordination and mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums.

The NA Chairwoman thanked the Parliament of Australia for supporting Vietnam's National Assembly in successfully organizing the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF 26) in last January.

Ngan asked the two law-making bodies to intensify mutual visits to share legislative experience, supervise and support their respective Governments to realise the commitments in the Plan of Action for 2016-2019 and other agreements, create more favourable conditions for people-to-people exchange, and enhance the role of parliamentary friendship groups and friendship associations in each country.

Later the same day, she hosted a banquet in honour of Speaker Tony Smith and his delegation.

 Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith is leading a high-level parliamentary delegation to visit Vietnam from July 23-25 at the invitation of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

VOV/VNA

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.