A story on Vietnam-Australia ties in memory of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: Ambassador
WVR - In memory of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Ambassador of Vietnam to Australia Pham Hung Tam has written an article on his personal experience, which the World and Vietnam Report would like to introduce to our readers.
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| Australia lauds Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s role in bilateral ties: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (Photo: VNA) |
A story in memory of H.E. Nguyen Phu Trong
At noon on a chilly day in early March 2008, I, then serving as the Assistant Director General at the Asia 2 Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received an urgent request from the Foreign Affairs Department of the National Assembly Office. They asked me to brief Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong on the current situation concerning Australia and Vietnam-Australia relations.
My colleague from the Foreign Affairs Department emphasized that due to Mr. Chairman's demanding schedule, I was to provide a brief and concise report within 15 minutes. This was to give Mr. Chairman an overview before his upcoming visit to Australia from 11-14 March 2008. As Mr. Chairman specifically requested insights from someone at a working level, there was no need for senior leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accompany me.
After a quick lunch, I proceeded directly to the National Assembly Office and reached the front door of Mr. Chairman's office at 12:55. With my expertise in Australia and South Pacific countries at the time, I felt confident enough to leave all materials at home. I even had 5 minutes to outline key points about Australia and the bilateral relationship, feeling assured that I could deliver a concise report to Mr. Chairman without difficulty.
At exactly 1:00 p.m., the door opened, and I heard Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong's welcoming voice: "Please come in, our specialist from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Following a firm handshake, Mr. Chairman laid out a map of the South Pacific region on his desk and expressed his interest in learning about Australia, as it was his first official visit there. He said that he could dedicate the next hour for me to provide insights on various aspects, such as the history, people, internal political situation, economy, culture, society, and current foreign affairs of Australia, along with details concerning our relationship with the country. In a light-hearted manner, Mr. Chairman suggested that I present the information thoroughly, as though explaining Australia to someone unfamiliar with it.
I was somewhat taken aback by the depth and timing of his request, which significantly differed from the instructions provided by the Foreign Affairs Department. If I had been aware of this beforehand, I would have reviewed my files more meticulously. Taking a few moments to organize my thoughts, I addressed each topic as requested by Mr. Chairman, endeavoring to recall any additional knowledge I had about Australia. Fortunately, I had completed a short course in Australia 13 years prior, and therefore I have a lot of knowledge about the country. Mr. Chairman's attentive demeanor, accompanied by occasional nods of encouragement, spurred me on for 45 minutes. I aimed to make my presentation engaging and practical.
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| A story on Vietnam-Australia ties in memory of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam (L) meets Speaker of the Parliament of New South Wales Gregory Piper. (Photo: VNA) |
Upon concluding my presentation, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong raised several questions about the Australian Aboriginal people, the characteristics of Perth, Canberra, and Sydney—the cities the delegation would be visiting. He also inquired about the operational cooperation mechanism between state and federal parliaments, the significance of the Australian flag and national flower, as well as Australian customs. Additionally, Mr. President requested me to identify on the map the key landmarks of the kangaroo country.
Seizing the increasingly relaxed atmosphere, I asked Mr. Chairman if I could address him in a more informal manner, as he was the same age as my father. As I presented, I actively sought his guidance on the direction of Australia-Vietnam relations in the upcoming years. After a brief pause, he responded, "Australia is a country with immense potential. Establishing ties with Australia equates to fostering relations with an entire continent. Australia was the first Western nation to normalize relations with Vietnam, extending goodwill. It is imperative that we upgrade the relations with Australia promptly to fully capitalize on cooperation opportunities in the fields of mining, energy, environmental protection, education and training, tourism, and official development assistance. We can also draw lessons from Australia's sustainable development model, considering their substantial mining activities alongside a robust emphasis on natural conservation. For this upcoming visit, you will accompany me. At the visit's conclusion, I will have one more question for you."
Expressing gratitude, I departed. Upon exiting, the time was precisely 2:15. My report exceeded the "request" issued by the Foreign Affairs Department of the National Assembly Office by five times. Shortly after, I joined the National Assembly delegation led by Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong on the official friendly visit to Australia. During our packed itinerary from the West to the East coast, I became so engrossed in our schedule that I entirely overlooked Mr. Chairman's "follow-up" question.
As the plane prepared to depart Australian airspace en route to our next destination, Japan, and with everyone settling in post-dinner for rest, Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong approached me. Taking a seat beside me, he grasped my hand and inquired, "How do you view our visit to Australia? Truthfully, do you perceive it as fruitful?" Excitedly, I replied, "Absolutely. One notable outcome is the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two parliaments, marking the first such agreement by the Australian legislature with a foreign partner." He nodded approvingly, offered a warm smile, and squeezed my hand tightly once more.
Reflecting back over 16 years, I cherish the remarkable moment shared with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, an exceptional leader characterized by his unassuming, amiable demeanor and remarkable foresight. Subsequently, Vietnam-Australia relations have continued to ascend to new echelons: Comprehensive Partnership in 2009, Enhanced Comprehensive Partnership in 2015, Strategic Partnership in 2018, and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024.
The areas of cooperation he highlighted since 2008 have now evolved into essential pillars of collaboration between the two countries. It is regrettable that, for various reasons, he was unable to revisit Australia to witness the significant achievements in bilateral relations, despite Australia extending multiple invitations, most recently during the Australian Prime Minister's official visit to Vietnam in June 2023. My interaction with him served as both a "good omen" and a driving force for me to strive and assume the role of Ambassador of Vietnam to Australia since February of this year. On a chilly afternoon in Canberra, it is with deep sorrow that I wish to share some reminiscences with our esteemed readers. This is also my homage to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Pham Hung Tam
Ambassador of Vietnam to Australia
