Australia to donate 2.6 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam

Foreign Minister Marise Payne made the announcement while co-chairing the third ministerial meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on November 9.

Both sides expressed their delight at the positive development of the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership in recent times, and agreed to further strengthen the good political relations and expand key areas of cooperation between the two countries.

They held that the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy between Vietnam and Australia which was recently approved by the two Prime Ministers on the sidelines of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in the United Kingdom, plays an important role in realizing the goal of making them become their top 10 trading partners and doubling their two-way investment.

Payne assured Son that Australia will increase investment in Vietnam and support the country in innovation, green and sustainable growth, high-tech agriculture, and at the same time will continue to maintain official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam.

The two diplomats agreed that both Vietnam and Australia will strengthen cooperation in science, technology and labour. The Australian side said it will consider applying the ‘agricultural visa’ policy to Vietnamese workers.

They also consented to promote defence cooperation, including training, military medicine, defense industry, as well as cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Regarding cooperation in education and training, Payne affirmed that Australia will continue to provide scholarships to Vietnamese students and consider allowing Vietnamese students who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to return to Australia for study.

The two sides also agreed to constantly promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities and friendship associations of the two countries, including the Vietnam - Australia and Australia – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Societies.

Son thanked the Australian Government for its timely support and assistance in vaccines and medical supplies for Vietnam. He shared Vietnam’s strategy of ‘safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of COVID-19’ in order to soon bring the whole country to a new normal.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Son congratulated Australia on officially becoming a comprehensive strategic partner of ASEAN at the first ASEAN-Australia Summit in October 2021, and expressed his belief that the move will pave the way for the two sides to develop their partnership in a comprehensive, substantive and effective manner.

Payne affirmed that Australia will continue to promote the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region, especially in the field of climate change response. Australia will support Vietnam to organize the ASEAN forum on sub-regional cooperation for sustainable development and inclusive growth at the end of November 2021.

The two sides also exchanged views on the East Sea issue, affirming that disputes should be resolved peacefully, on the basis of respecting international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both host and guest agreed to boost cooperation between their Foreign Ministries, exchange information, arrange high-level visits and meetings, and deploy existing cooperation mechanisms in flexible forms.

They witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries.