NA leader receives Australian, New Zealand ambassadors

Meeting the Australian ambassador, Chairwoman Ngan expressed her wish that Australia would continue helping Vietnam improve capacity of its defence-security forces and consider expanding assistance in bomb and mine clearance and overcoming war consequences. 

Describing education as a promising field with nearly 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia, the chairwoman suggested Australia build training projects for Vietnam in the fields of agriculture (training, technical assistance and technology transfer) as well as joint scientific research projects. 

She hailed Australia’s increasing position in the world, and proposed the two nations continue mutual support at regional and global forums such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the United Nations (UN). 

Chairwoman Ngan said the Vietnamese NA wants to share legislation experience with Australia and added that the Vietnam- Australia Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group has been established with Head of the NA Office as its chairman. 

Ambassador Chittick, for his part, expressed his delight at the close coordination between the embassy and the Vietnamese legislature in gender equality promotion projects over the past years, adding that gender equality is a major priority in the embassy’s agenda. 

The ambassador said he was satisfied with the bilateral cooperation with highlights featured in three partnership programmes on development and trade, security and innovation, adding that the embassy has contributed to the innovation partnership programme to boost innovation in Vietnam. 

On the East Sea issue, Chittick emphasised the importance of ensuring peace and stability as well as navigation and aviation safety, security and freedom in the East Sea. He also stressed the need to settle disputes through peaceful measures, respect diplomatic and legal processes, observe international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and not use force or threaten to use force. 

The diplomat also affirmed that Australia is ready to work closely with Vietnam to successfully organise APEC Year 2017 in the Southeast Asian country. 

While receiving New Zealand Ambassador Matthews, Chairwoman Ngan wished that New Zealand would continue assisting Vietnam in promoting sustainable development, particularly in remote and mountainous areas, enhancing gender equality, climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. 

Speaking highly of New Zealand’s English training courses for Vietnamese lawmakers, she expressed desire that the two sides would intensify links between the NA’s committees and friendship parliamentarians’ groups as well as closely coordinate at global inter-parliamentary forums, especially at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly. 

The chairwoman suggested the two nations regularly maintain the exchange of delegations and meetings as well as people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, agriculture, education, science and technology. 

Ambassador Matthews noted that the two countries’ senior leaders have pledged to reinforce bilateral comprehensive partnership, not only in trade, education but also in other areas. 

The diplomat said that, as coastal nations, both New Zealand and Vietnam respect international law, which she said, plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.