Australia: A steadfast, reliable and trusted friend to Vietnam

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed her delight at returning to Hanoi on her third visit in this role, emphasizing that it was an opportunity to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

As part of the visit, Minister Wong was honoured to meet Prime Minister His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Bui Thanh Son, to discuss shared priorities, including trade and investment, development cooperation, climate change, education, cyber and critical technology and human rights.

Minister Wong attended the seventh annual Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which welcomed excellent progress on implementing the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed in March 2024.

Australia and Vietnam affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field of cyberspace.  Minister Wong met Minister of Public Security, General Luong Tam Quang, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding of Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Cooperation, which will drive our partnership in this critical sector.

Under the Mekong–Australia Partnership Program, Foreign Minister Penny Wong declared AUD50 million of activities in the Mekong subregion, to empower local communities to adapt to climate change. She also announced an increase of 30 annual Australia Awards scholarships for Mekong countries, including 5 additional scholarships for Vietnam.

Australia’s longstanding education partnership with Vietnam is at the heart of people-to-people connections. On this occasion, Ms. Penny Wong met and held talks with a group of Vietnamese alumni who had studied at Australian educational institutions. The alumni shared about the positive impacts of this educational opportunity on their personal careers as well as on Vietnam’s development.

Trade and investment links are a priority for both countries. Minister Wong talked with Vietnamese and Australian business leaders, who play an important role growing economic ties, and implementing Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

During the visit, Minister Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Son also agreed to establish a new annual Australia-Vietnam Policy Planning Dialogue to strengthen cooperation on responses to regional and global challenges.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Penny Wong emphasized: “Australia’s relationship with Vietnam is built on mutual strategic trust and understanding, and we cooperate as close friends and partners to further peace, stability and prosperity in our region.

On behalf of Australia, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to the people of Vietnam for their upcoming 80th Anniversary of Independence. Vietnam’s journey has been a remarkable story of resilience, dynamism and determination. As Comprehensive Strategic Partners, we continue to work together to advance our economic, development and security cooperation.”