Top legislator meets with President of the Australia-VN Friendship Society

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and President of the Australia-Viet Nam Friendship Society (AVFS) Kim Sampson, November 29, 2017- Photo: VOV

The Chairwoman stressed that the AVFS serves as a bridge for the bilateral ties.

The top legislator, who is on an official visit to Australia, noted with satisfaction the increase of mutual high-ranking visits and meetings, adding that cooperation via all channels, including Parties, parliaments, governments and people, has been expanded.

Ms. Ngan stressed that the National Assembly (NA) and Government of Viet Nam always support and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese and Australian friendship organizations to increase activities, including educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation in humanitarian aid.

At the recent APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Viet Nam’s Da Nang city, PMs Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Malcolm Turnbull agreed to soon lift the Viet Nam-Australia relationship to a strategic partnership, she said, expressing her belief that bilateral ties will be reinforced for the sake of the two countries’ people. 

The top legislator appreciated the AVFS’s practical activities, describing the association as a bridge helping to enhance the countries’ sound relations, especially their people’s friendship and mutual understanding.

Viet Nam and Australia will mark 45 years of their diplomatic ties in 2018. Therefore, the countries’ friendship associations should coordinate to organize meaningful celebrations, thus contributing to a practical Viet Nam-Australia Friendship Year 2018.

As Vietnamese people in Australia is a big community, Chairwoman Ngan asked the President and members of the AVFS assist Vietnamese people in integrating into the local society and contribute to the two countries’ relations.

For his part, AVFS President Sampson said the number of AVFS members has been on the rise since the association was set up four decades ago.

He said AVFS members are looking forward to the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties. The association will join the Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia to promote people-to-people exchanges.

Earlier on November 29, the Vietnamese leader had attended a hearing of the Australian Senate./.  

By Kim Anh