The diplomat said she is very lucky to assume her post at a time when Australia-Vietnam relations have never been stronger, especially on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the elevation of the ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership (March 2024).

According to her, both Vietnam and Australia have put each other in their top tier of diplomatic relations. And the current relationship is built on three major pillars: development cooperation and education, which have a long-standing history and align well with Vietnam’s development goals; economic relations, which are expanding significantly; and defence and security cooperation. All of these pillars are underpinned by strong people-to-people links, Gillian affirmed.

The ambassador assessed that the two countries currently enjoy a strong and growing trade and economic relationship, with Australia now among Vietnam’s top 10 trading partners.

A few years ago, Australia launched a new economic strategy for the Southeast Asian region, called “Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040,” recognising the need to further strengthen regional economic ties. “It's got some concrete recommendations and Vietnam has been really at the core of some of those,” said Gillian.

As part of this strategy, Australia also established an investment support office in Ho Chi Minh City, which plays a vital role in promoting and facilitating Australian business investment opportunities across the country. In addition, the Australian Government has set up a Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility worth 2 billion AUD (approximately 1.34 billion USD) to support private sector investment in the region, with Vietnam identified as a key focus again.

Regarding Vietnam’s plan to promote science-technology development and innovation, the diplomat affirmed Australia’s support for these ambitious goals, and its commitment to work with the Southeast Asian country to achieve them.

As part of bilateral development cooperation, Australia launched a programme called Aus4Innovation - a 10-year initiative in Vietnam. The programme, which began in 2018, aims to support Vietnam in building a robust innovation ecosystem to advance sustainable and inclusive development.

Looking ahead, an Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technology Centre will be opened in Hanoi, which further demonstrates Australia’s strong commitment to cooperation in technology and innovation, Ambassador Gillian emphasised.

The diplomat also asserted that her country strongly supports Vietnam’s efforts to help build a stable and inclusive region where national sovereignty is respected, and international rules and norms are abided, adding that Vietnam’s position on this matter closely aligns with that of Australia.

ASEAN’s centrality is essential to maintaining regional stability, and Vietnam has been playing this role very effectively, she assessed.

Regarding Vietnam’s upcoming hosting of the signing ceremony for the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime this October, the ambassador said that this is a significant international event, highlighting Vietnam’s increasingly active role and meaningful contributions to the international community. The Australian Embassy is actively preparing for high-level delegations to visit and participate in this important occasion.

She also shared that Australians love visiting Vietnam, citing the data of 400,000 to 500,000 Australians travelling to the Southeast Asian nation every year.

Vietnamese airlines, including the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, have played a significant role in increasing the number of flights between the two countries. This not only provides greater convenience for tourists but also facilitates cargo transport, such as the shipment of fresh seafood.

In terms of education, there are more than 35,000 Vietnamese students learning in Australia. The growing presence of Australian universities in Vietnam has also helped create more favourable conditions for learners, fostering the exchange of knowledge and contributing to the development of a high-quality workforce that meets the demands of international integration, added Gillian.

Australia supports Vietnam’s current directions: Ambassador

Outgoing Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski affirmed Australia's strong support for directions currently pursued by Vietnam when he bid farewell to National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man in Hanoi on the afternoon of December 26.