Government leaders of Vietnam, Australia and Cook Islands meet in Indonesia

At the meeting with the Australian PM,  the two leaders hailed the continued exchange of delegations and high-level contacts between the two nations, as well as the effective cooperation in multiple fields such as economy, trade, investment, national defence-security, labour, education and training, agriculture, sci-tech, tourism, aviation, locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges.

The Australian PM reaffirmed that Australia places great importance to boosting ties with Vietnam. He wished to welcome Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Australia soon and suggested finalizing necessary internal procedures to elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time.

The Australian side pledges to prioritize official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, especially in areas of Vietnam’s need such as climate change adaptation, energy transition, digital transformation, and digital economy.

The Australian PM also took note of PM Chinh’s proposals regarding increased labour cooperation, education and training, and supply of more scholarships to the Vietnamese students.

The two sides vowed to continue working hand in hand and making active contributions to promoting dialogue, cooperation and trust building through ASEAN-led mechanisms, on the basis of respect for ASEAN's central role and consultations with ASEAN, for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

They also pledged to continue backing ASEAN's efforts to narrow the development gap and assist less-developed regions, including the Mekong sub-region.

The two countries will also partner with Laos to successfully organise the Climate Change and Energy Transition Conference in Hanoi later this year.

The Australian PM reiterated his invitation to PM Chinh to visit Australia and attend the ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit in March 2024 and his invitation was graciously accepted.

During the meeting PM Mark Brown from the Cook, the two sides once again glowingly spoke of the signing of the Joint Communiqué to establish diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Cook Islands on April 26, 2022, saying it has opened up numerous opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various promising areas.  

They believed that with determination and political trust, the bilateral ties will further grow, particularly in the economy, trade, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and in addressing climate change and rising sea levels.

In the time to come, both sides will dispatch delegates to the International Fisheries Forum in the Cook Islands in December and the International Rice Festival in Vietnam scheduled for the end of this year.

PM Brown wished to share experience in socioeconomic development as well as global and regional integration with Vietnam.

He also expressed readiness to create conditions for Vietnamese firms to invest in potential sectors such as tourism and aquaculture, and pledged to engage in early discussions and negotiations with Vietnam on a rice trade cooperation agreement.

PM Chinh, for his part, suggested that the two sides further strengthen mutual connectivity and support between their economies, with a focus on areas with untapped potential, such as agriculture, aquaculture and apparel while exploring the expansion of collaboration in new fields such as the digital economy, circular economy, green economy and innovation.

The two leaders concurred to strengthen mutual support at global and regional forums.

In his capacity as the incumbent Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Brown vowed to support and act as a bridge connecting Vietnam with the South Pacific countries. He thanked PM Chinh for his invitation to Vietnam and promised to make a visit soon.