Vietnam and Australia seek to lift ties to comprehensive strategic partnership
VOV.VN - Relations between Vietnam and Australia continue to develop both positively and dynamically, and leaders of the two countries are considering lifting their ties to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time, said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski.
Ambassador Goledzinowski, in an interview recently granted to VTCNews, noted that mutual relations can become a model of win-win strategic partnership, particularly as the two countries share common interests and common development potential. Indeed, both sides value an international order, including maritime order, which is based on international law.
The lifting of bilateral relations will pave the way for further collaboration, targeting specific areas such as digitalisation and climate change response, said the diplomat.
According to the Australian Ambassador, 2023 was an important year in bilateral relations as it commemorated 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. To mark this event, a number of high-ranking officials of Australia, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, visited Vietnam. These trips contributed to further enhancing bilateral relations, proving to be a key factor in creating new business opportunities and connecting peoples of the two countries.
Among the remarkable gains recorded, Australia has become the seventh largest trading partner for Vietnam, a country that plays an important part in Australia’s newly launched Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. In fact, many Australian companies have invested in various areas in the Vietnamese market, ranging from telecommunications to education.
The Australian Government has announced an AUD105 million grant for Vietnamese economic development, focusing on infrastructure construction, agricultural development, climate change response, and energy transition. It has also assisted Vietnam with US$95 million to adapt to climate change in the Mekong Delta in the 2023 - 2024 period.
Australia has also moved to introduce strong development policies and strategies to adapt to climate change in Vietnam, with cooperation spanning various fields, making 2023 an even better year for both countries, said Ambassador Goledzinowski.
Also in the interview, the Ambassador shared his thoughts and feelings about the Vietnamese land, people, and culture. He said that he has travelled the length and breadth of Vietnam to discover the country and sound out any potential cooperation opportunities. He has met with many Government officials, businesspeople, and ordinary people, finding that Vietnamese people are both optimistic and energetic. This therefore motivates him to work hard towards achieving a better relationship between the two countries.
