Momentum for successful implementation of the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action: Ambassador
WVR - On the occasion of Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s official visit to Vietnam (August 19-21), Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam shared the significance of the visit as well as the close cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in implementing bilateral cooperation frameworks.
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| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the occasion of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 58) on July 10. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
How do you assess the significance of Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit to Vietnam in the context of the two countries actively implementing the Action Programme for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2024–2027?
At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Foreign Minister Penny Wong will pay an official visit to Vietnam and co-chair the 7th Annual Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM7) between the two countries with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son.
The visit comes just over two months after Senator Penny Wong was officially reappointed as Foreign Minister following the Labour Party’s victory in the May 2025 general election. This reflects the Australian Government’s high priority and strong interest in strengthening and developing the cooperative relationship between Australia and Vietnam.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Australia) |
For Vietnam, the official visit by the Australian Foreign Minister contributes to the implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on “International Integration in the New Context.” This resolution promotes integration in parallel with strengthening relations with Comprehensive Strategic Partners such as Australia, thereby helping to maintain a peaceful and stable environment and promote socio-economic development.
Currently, the Action Programme to implement the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 2024–2027 period, signed by the two Foreign Ministers on October 18, 2024, during Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son’s visit to Australia, is being effectively carried out by both sides, with 96% of the 180 action items completed or on schedule.
In this context, the official visit by the Australian Foreign Minister and the 7th FMM will serve as an additional driving force to successfully implement this Action Program and bring tangible benefits to both sides.
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| The 10th Strategic Dialogue on Foreign Affairs and Defense (2+2) between Vietnam and Australia on August 5, 2025. (Photo: Bao Chi) |
Could you share the key focus areas of the 7th Vietnam–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM7) and the significance of this meeting in shaping bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries?
I believe FMM7 will focus on discussions around bilateral cooperation in the six key pillars outlined in the Action Program, namely: (i) political–defense–security–judicial cooperation; (ii) economic connectivity; (iii) people-to-people exchanges;(iv) climate, environment, and energy;(v) science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; (vi) cooperation at regional and international forums.
In particular, the two sides are likely to engage in in-depth discussions on upcoming high-level delegation exchanges across Party, State, parliamentary, and governmental channels, as well as on the implementation of cooperation agreements reached since Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Australia in March 2024—an important milestone that resulted in the upgrading of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Given the current rapidly evolving and complex global situation, and based on Australia’s strong interest and prioritization of South East Asia, it is expected that the meeting will also address ASEAN cooperation, Mekong subregional cooperation, and developments in several regional flashpoints.
Accordingly, FMM7 will help shape an active, effective, and mutually beneficial high-level diplomatic calendar for both sides. The outcomes of these important diplomatic activities will provide concrete direction for the continued and effective implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the coming years—not only bilaterally but also at regional and international forums.
In addition, the comprehensive review and in-depth discussion at FMM7 on the implementation of the 2024–2027 Action Program and relevant cooperation agreements will play a vital role in ensuring that key areas of cooperation between the two countries are carried out fully and in the right direction.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the occasion of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, February 26, 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Australia) |
How do you assess the cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries in implementing the substance of the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
Thanks to the close guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and leadership of the Ministry, as well as the strong engagement from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), it can be said that the cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries has become one of the most effective and substantive bilateral relationships among Vietnam’s diplomatic partnerships around the world.
In addition to supporting high-level visits, both Ministries have proactively coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities on each side to effectively implement bilateral cooperation agreements. This includes promoting local-level partnerships, particularly among the 15 sister-city and sister-province pairings between Vietnamese provinces and cities and Australian states and cities.
New initiatives and cooperation mechanisms—such as the Senior Officials Dialogue between the two Ministries—have been promptly established, with the inaugural dialogue successfully held in Australia on 5 August 2025. The two sides are also exploring the possibility of building a new trilateral cooperation model between Vietnam, Australia, and a suitable partner in areas such as education, training, and socio-economic development, in support of peace and development in the region.
It is also important to emphasize that the strong cooperation between the two Ministries has played a meaningful role in maintaining Australia’s stable and significant development assistance to Vietnam over the years (DFAT is the agency responsible for advising on and allocating ODA). Australia has also been one of Vietnam’s largest suppliers of COVID-19 vaccines and has frequently provided timely support during natural disasters and severe flooding.
In the area of training, through the Vietnam–Australia Centre, DFAT has supported the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conducting programs such as diplomatic interpretation training, capacity building for female diplomats, speechwriting skills for senior leaders, as well as organizing seminars and dialogues on maritime issues. Australia has also actively supported and participated in Vietnamese initiatives, including the ASEAN Future Forum 2025.
In summary, the cooperation between the Vietnamese and Australian Foreign Ministries is developing very positively and effectively contributes to implementing key aspects of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across politics, economics, culture, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.
Thank you, Ambassador!
