Australian Senate President’s visit to deepen ties between legislatures: official
The visit to Vietnam from August 24-30 by President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines is of important significance, contributing to a deeper and more practical relationship between the two legislative bodies and making it a key pillar in the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, said Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee for Foreign Affairs Le Thu Ha.
Talking with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporter, Ha said it will be the first official visit to Vietnam by the Senate President at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.
The visit demonstrates Australia's interest and commitment to its relationship with Vietnam and affirms its desire to strengthen ties between the Vietnamese NA and the Australian Parliament. It also concretises the cooperation agreement between the two legislatures in the new phase, with broader contents aimed at increasing practical and effective collaboration, she said.
Regarding the Senate President's agenda, Ha said Lines will hold talks with NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, meet with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh, and pay a courtesy call to Party General Secretary and President To Lam. She will also attend the Vietnam-Australia Forum to be co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, and pay working trips to the northern provinces of Ninh Binh and Bac Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Through the visit, she believed that both sides will continue to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and enhance coordination across all areas. The focus will be placed on greater political and diplomatic trust; more comprehensive, practical and effective economic, trade and investment cooperation; stronger collaboration in sci-tech, innovation, digital transformation and green transition; more profound links in culture, education-training, environment, and climate change response; broader and more sincere people-to-people exchanges and connections between generations; and enhanced understanding and sharing of national defence-security issues.
Through parliamentary diplomacy, a cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Australian Parliament will elevate and deepen their relationship, making it a key pillar in the overall bilateral relationship between the two countries, Ha said.
Reflecting on the strides made in the bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 26, 1973, Ha highlighted the robust exchange of delegations at all levels, as well as significant cooperation in economy-trade, national defence-security, agriculture, education, labour, and people-to-people exchanges.
Looking ahead, the official sees ample potential for collaboration in emerging areas such as climate change response, digital transformation, and energy transition.
