Viet Nam asks Australia to help obtain COVID-19 vaccine

Speaking to Morrison over the phone on Tuesday, Pham expressed thanks for Australia’s commitment to grant AUD 40 million to support Viet Nam’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement.

Regarding bilateral ties, Pham affirmed that he stands ready to work closely with Morrison to deepen the strategic partnership with Australia an increasingly effective and practical manner.

He suggested the Australian side continue technical assistance and open up its market for Vietnamese farm produce, and encourage Australian investors to expand investment in the Southeast Asian country.

Pham called for Australia’s official development assistance to infrastructure, agriculture, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and high-quality human resource development as well as its continued support for Vietnamese peacekeeping forces.

Meanwhile, Morrison reassured that Australia attaches importance to further promoting the strategic partnership with Viet Nam.

Morrison expressed his hope that both sides will lift up the bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two leaders agreed to soon finalize and sign a strategy on enhancing bilateral economic cooperation as well as collaboration at regional and international mechanisms and forums.

Pham spoke highly of Australia’s active role in cooperation with ASEAN and Mekong Sub-region mechanisms.

Both sides also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concerns.

On East Sea issue, the two leaders underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of aviation and navigation, peacefully settling disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards conclusion of an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea./.

By Quang Minh