DPM receives Australian Chief Minister of Northern Territory

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (R) receives Australian Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner, Ha Noi, November 7, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

At the meeting, Deputy PM Minh congratulated on achievements of the Northern Territory, especially in such areas as agriculture, tourism and construction. 

The two leaders referred to the two-way trade value of US$5.72 billion as of the end of the third quarter of 2018, a year-on-year increase of 20%.

They highly appraised the practical and realistic development in the bilateral relationship, including the ties between the two sides’ localities, the relations between the Northern Territory and Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong City, Khanh Hoa Province and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. 

Mr. Michael Gunner asserted to attach importance to the relationship with Viet Nam, willing to accelerate the cooperation in trade, investment and education with Viet Nam as well as considering expanding cooperation in other areas such as transport and tourism.

He said he welcomes and will facilitate Vietnamese airline Vietjet Air to soon launch an air route to Darwin by 2019 and encouraged Vietnamese firms, including Vingroup and TH True Milk to invest in the Northern Territory. 

Deputy PM Minh highlighted the huge cooperative opportunities between the Northern Territory and Viet Nam in terms of aviation, navigation and tourism, particularly with provinces and cities in the South of Viet Nam. 

He suggested leaders of the Northern Territory increase scholarships for Vietnamese students through StudyNT and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese to stabilize their lives in the region.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh and the Australian Chief Minister of the Northern Territory witness the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory, Ha Noi, November 7, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

The occasion, Deputy PM Minh and the Australian Chief Minister of the Northern Territory witnessed the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory, creating a cooperative framework for the two sides’ businesses in the upcoming time. 

Within the working visit to Viet Nam from November 6-9,  Mr. Michael Gunner held a working session with Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong and Vietnamese businesses operating in trade, agriculture, education and transport. 

By Thuy Dung