Sook Yee Lai was leading an Australian Political Exchange Council delegation on a working visit to Vietnam. 

Welcoming the delegation, Thanh highly appreciated the long-standing and regular exchange mechanism between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Vietnam and the Australian Political Exchange Council. She noted that this cooperation channel has become increasingly practical and has made positive contributions to Vietnam–Australia relations, particularly in fostering youth engagement and connections among young political leaders.

She emphasised that the visit of the Australian delegation reflects both sides’ shared commitment to further deepening cooperation in parliamentary diplomacy and youth exchange, contributing to the overall development of the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Vice Chairwoman congratulated Australia on its achievements in economic development, political stability, and its growing role and influence in the region and the world. She reaffirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to its relations with Australia, a Comprehensive Strategic Partner with strong potential and shared strategic interests.

She also noted that Vietnam–Australia relations are currently developing strongly, comprehensively, and in depth, built on high political trust and strategic alignment. Australia is one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region and one of its 15 Comprehensive Strategic Partners globally. Both sides have completed 96% of the Action Plan implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 2024–2027 period, with political trust continuously strengthened through regular high-level exchanges.

The Vice Chairwoman welcomed Australia’s continued increase in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam amid tightening global budgets. She also said that the Vietnamese National Assembly is currently reviewing amendments to relevant legal frameworks to further improve the investment and legal environment for ODA-funded projects, including those from Australia.

She highlighted Vietnam’s successful organisation of the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and local People’s Councils for the 2026–2031 term, with 500 elected deputies, including 99 young deputies under the age of 45, accounting for 19.8%. She stressed that these young deputies represent diverse social groups, ethnicities, and religions, and play an active role in legislative innovation and policy development.

The Vice Chairwoman affirmed that the National Assembly of Vietnam stands ready to accompany young parliamentarians from both countries to further expand cooperation, especially in areas where Australia has strengths such as education, innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development, thereby deepening the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a substantive and effective manner.

She assigned the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, in coordination with the National Assembly Young Deputies Group of the 16th tenure, to continue playing a key role in maintaining and renewing cooperation mechanisms with the Australian Political Exchange Council. She also expressed hope that Sook and Australian parliamentarians would continue to support the Vietnamese community in Australia and facilitate favourable conditions for visas for Vietnamese citizens, students, and workers.

The Vice Chairwoman further expressed her hope that bilateral exchanges would continue to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship, while expanding cooperation in tourism, education and training, culture, climate change response, energy transition, digital economy, and high-tech agriculture. She also emphasised continued cooperation in parliamentary experience sharing and exchanges among friendship groups, young parliamentarians, and women parliamentarians, particularly in areas such as legislative reform, digital transformation governance, climate adaptation, and green development.

In response, Sook Yee Lai, Acting Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, reaffirmed the importance of the political exchange mechanism between the two sides. She highly valued Vietnam’s role as an important member of ASEAN and as a key bridge between ASEAN and Australia.

She expressed her hope that Vietnam and Australia would continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the coming time, particularly in education and digital transformation, contributing to the further development of bilateral relations in a practical and effective manner.

Vietnam–Australia chamber debuts in Western Australia to boost trade, investment

VOV.VN - The Vietnam–Australia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAVCCI) was launched on March 31 at the Canning City Administrative Centre in Western Australia, marking a new milestone in efforts to promote economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and the state.