PM Pham Minh Chinh’s trips to Australia, New Zealand successful in all aspects: Foreign Minister
WVR - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visits to Australia and New Zealand were successful in all aspects, marking significant milestones in Vietnam's relations with the two countries, said Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Heads of delegations at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
In an interview granted to media, Foreign Minister Son highlighted the significance of the visits, saying that they represent a concrete step in implementing the foreign policy set by the 13th National Party Congress, which includes further strengthening and deepening relations with partners, especially strategic, comprehensive and important partners, and traditional friends.
These were Prime Minister Chinh's first visits to Australia and New Zealand in his new position, and also the visits by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to the two countries in seven years, the Foreign Minister said.
In Australia, Prime Minister Chinh and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese announced the elevation of the Vietnam-Australia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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| Special Summit adopted the “ASEAN-Australia Leaders’ Vision Statement – Partners for Peace and Prosperity” and the “Melbourne Declaration – A Partnership for the Future.” (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
They agreed to closely coordinate to implement six major directions, including strengthening political trust and strategic diplomacy. Others include more practical and effective cooperation in economy, trade, and investment; and in science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transition. More comprehensive cooperation in culture is also in the cards, along with collaboration in education, training, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation. The two sides will strive for stronger people-to-people exchanges and connections between generations, as well as security and defence cooperation.
Prime Minister Chinh had meetings with Australian Governor-General David Hurley, President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines, and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (LPA) Peter Dutton. He received Deputy Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives and Chairperson of the Australia-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Sharon Claydon, and many other Australian leaders.
He attended and delivered speeches at Vietnam - Australia business and education forums, participated in a ceremony to inaugurate the Australia-Vietnam Policy Institute at RMIT University, visited education-training facilities, and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country.
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| In Australia, Prime Minister Chinh and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese announced the elevation of the Vietnam-Australia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
During the visit, Ministries and sectors of the two counties signed 13 cooperation deals in different fields. Meanwhile, universities of the two sides inked nine cooperation agreements, Foreign Minister Son said.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Chinh held talks with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon; and met with senior leaders of the country. The two sides agreed to strengthen political trust, mutual understanding, and cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, people-to-people exchange, thus opening up opportunities for cooperation in new areas such as climate change adaptation and digital transformation, Son said.
The two sides also agreed to together boost trade promotion activities towards lifting two-way trade to 2 billion USD this year, and take measures to increase bilateral investment to 500 million USD by 2030. They also committed to contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and their spouses. (Photo:Tuan Anh) |
On this occasion, ministries and sectors of Vietnam and New Zealand signed three cooperation agreements in the fields of education, economy-trade, and finance, which serve as a foundation and prerequisite for specific and effective cooperation between the two countries' ministries and sectors in the coming years, contributing to the stable and sustainable development of the Vietnam-New Zealand strategic partnership.
According to Foreign Minister Son, both Australia and New Zealand highly valued Vietnam's increasing position and role in the region and the world. They agreed to continue collaborating with and supporting each other at regional and international forums for the benefit of their people, as well as for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in Wellington, on March 11, 2024. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Asked about the outcomes of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Foreign Minister Son called it a “golden milestone” in the bilateral relationship as it set out cooperation orientations for the new period.
The Summit is a testament to the growing value and importance of ASEAN, as well as the importance partners attach to the grouping’s role and position, the minister continued.
The two sides consented to promote the culture of dialogue and cooperation, trust building, conflict prevention, and the role of international law and multilateralism in conduct and cooperation in dealing with common challenges.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visits to Australia and New Zealand were successful in all aspects, marking significant milestones in Vietnam's relations with the two countries, said Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
The leaders emphasised the role of peace, stability, security and safety of aviation and overflight in the East Sea, and the peaceful settlement of conflicts on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Summit adopted the “ASEAN-Australia Leaders’ Vision Statement – Partners for Peace and Prosperity” and the “Melbourne Declaration – A Partnership for the Future,” Foreign Minister Son said, calling them a foundation for the implementation of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in the time ahead.
