VN, Australia hold 1st ministerial meeting after signing strategic partnership
VGP – Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Australian FM Julie Bishop co-chaired the first ministerial meeting in Ha Noi on Monday.
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Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (R) shakes hands with Australian FM Julie Bishop at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ha Noi on May 28, 2018. Photo; VGP |
The meeting is considered as the first and important step of the Viet Nam-Australia strategic partnership signed during PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official Australia visit last March.
Both sides expressed their pleasure at the robust advancement of the bilateral relationship, affirming the importance of lifting up the relationship to strategic partnership.
The two sides agreed on close collaboration in deploying contents stated in the Viet Nam-Australia Joint Statement on establishment of strategic partnership and in fruitfully realizing goals of their Action Program for the period 2016-2019.
Deputy PM, FM Minh spoke highly of the outcomes of the recent State visit to Viet Nam by Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, which took place on the occasion of the 45th founding anniversary (1973-2018) of diplomatic ties.
Australian FM Bishop affirmed the Government of Australia continues considering Viet Nam as one of its key partners in the Asia-Pacific region, wishing to further strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in both bilateral and multilateral aspects.
Both sides agreed economic-trade-investment cooperation is the key pillar of their strategic partnership, vowing to continue consolidating strategic and political trust and deepening cooperation in various fields.
Deputy PM, FM Minh highly valued Australia’s official development assistance for Viet Nam, contributing to socioeconomic development in the Southeast Asian country.
Australia will continue support for Viet Nam’s participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations and improvement of maritime security and safety capacity, affirmed Ms. Julie Bishop.
The two FMs agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at the regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, and East Asia Summit.
Ms. Bishop voiced support for ASEAN’s unity and central role in the region while Deputy PM, FM Minh affirmed Viet Nam will actively back Australia to expand cooperation with ASEAN./.
By Quang Minh
