VN, Australia boost cooperation in pillars, potential areas

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Speaker of Australian House of Representatives Tony Smith, Ha Noi, July 24, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

The PM hosted a reception for Speaker of Australian House of Representatives Tony Smith on July 24 on the occasion of the Australian legislator’s official visit to Viet Nam. 

The guest expressed his hope that the Australian delegation’s visit to Viet Nam will help tighten the relationship between the two parliaments, Governments and people. 

Regarding the inauguration of Cao Lang Bridge, Mr. Tony Smith supposed that the project not only improves lives of local people and promotes Viet Nam’s socio-economic development but also becomes a crucial symbol in the two countries’ relationship. 

The Australian Parliament hopes to strengthen ties with the Vietnamese National Assembly and Government, he asserted. 

The Vietnamese PM confirmed that Viet Nam is making efforts in realizing contents of the Joint Statement inked with Australia in March 2018. 

Viet Nam is determined to approving the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2018 and will join hand with Australia in launching the agreement. 

The Vietnamese National Assembly and Government highly value and expect Australia to raise a strong voice to support the standpoint of ASEAN and Viet Nam in the East Sea issue and enhance the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the future Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC). 

Mr. Tony Smith asserted that Australia will continue supporting Viet Nam in its development process. 

Regarding the East Sea issue, the Australian legislator said that Australia respects freedom of navigation and is unanimous with this standpoint not only in declarations in Australia or Viet Nam but anywhere in the world. 

He affirmed that Australia will closely coordinate with Viet Nam in CPTPP to bring benefits for every member joining the agreement.

PM Phuc hoped that Australia will support Viet Nam in fields of infrastructure, agricultural and rural development, poverty reduction and response to climate change. 

He respectively thanked Australia for giving priorities in providing Official Development Assistance for Viet Nam, proposing the two sides actively coordinate to organize activities  celebrating the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 20^th anniversary of defense relations. 

By Thuy Dung