PM meets with Governor-General of Australia

Within his official visit to Australia, PM Phuc met with Australian Governor-General Cosgrove. 

At the meeting, PM Phuc expressed his pleasure to pay the official visit to Australia on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1973-2018). 

The Governor-General recalled his good sentiments for Viet Nam and expressed his impression on the outstanding developments of Viet Nam over the recent years. Mr. Cosgrove also congratulated the country on its active integration and improving its role and stature in the region and the world, especially the successful organization of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in 2017.

Both sides hailed the strategic partnership establishment, considering it as a breakthrough in bilateral relations, creating a new framework and opportunities for cooperation in the pillar fields. They affirmed the resolve to increase high-ranking visits and meetings and step up people-to-people exchange. 

Governor-General Cosgrove stressed that people-to-people and cultural exchange and tourism cooperation provided a solid foundation for the strategic partnership today and in the future.

There are currently nearly 30,000 Vietnamese students in Australia, more than 60,000 others who used to study in Australia, and over 1,000 under the New Colombo Plan. Nearly 500,000 Australians visited the Southeast Asian nation in 2017. Those are vivid evidence of the two countries’ close-knit connections.

On this occasion, the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in security, defense, economy-trade-investment, education, labor, and science-technology in line with the countries’ strategic partnership. 

After the meeting, Governor-General Cosgrove drove a buggy taking PM Phuc and his spouse to see kangaroos in the grounds of the Government House, a special act showing Australia’s respect for Viet Nam./.

By Khanh Phuong