Deputy PM lauds Australian Ambassador’s contributions to bilateral ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh receives PM Malcolm Turnbull,  Ha Noi, June 25, 2019

At a reception for the outgoing diplomat in Ha Noi on June 25, Deputy PM Minh recalled the historic milestone that PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and PM Malcolm Turnbull signed a joint statement on the establishment of the Viet Nam-Australia strategic partnership in March 2018.

During Chittick’s term in Viet Nam, the two countries have maintained the regular exchange of delegations, with seven high-level visits, in addition to establishing a dialogue mechanism between the two Foreign Ministers and working together in the building of an action program for the implementation of the strategic partnership within the next three years, he said.

Two-way trade revenue increased an average of 17% in 2016, 2017 and 2018, while many of Viet Nam’s key farm produce, such as dragon fruit and mango, have set their foothold in such a fastidious market as Australia, the deputy PM stated.

Regarding development cooperation, Politburo member Minh asked Australia to continue providing official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam, affirming that the projects using Australia’s ODA loans have been contributing to accelerating Viet Nam’s socio-economic development, especially the projects to develop transport infrastructure in the Mekong Delta.

He took the occasion to thank Australia for supporting Viet Nam in the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces over the recent past, while urging for close coordination in preparing for the high-level visits between the two sides in the time ahead.

For his part, Ambassador Craig Chittick spoke highly of Viet Nam’s development achievements as well as the country’s position in the region and around the world. 

The diplomat extended his congratulations to Viet Nam on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 with a record number of votes.

 By Vien Nhu