PM Dung holds meetings on the sidelines of G20 summit

While meeting with Deputy PM Wayne Swan, who is head of the Australian delegation to the G20 summit, PM Dung expressed his delight at the significant progress in Vietnam-Australia relationship since the two countries agreed to develop their comprehensive partnership after Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s official visit to Australia in September 2009.

Mr Dung said that Australia is one of Vietnam’s leading trade and investment partners. In the first quarter of this year, the two countries’ two-way trade turnover reached more than US$1.2 billion, up 34 percent over the same period last year. The Vietnam-Australia Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee has organised a meeting in Australia to draw up measures to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries.

The Vietnamese PM called for the early signing of an action plan to effectively boosting the two countries’ comprehensive partnership. He proposed Australia consider procedures on mutual recognition of food hygiene and safety, especially for Vietnamese seafood.

Mr Dung expressed his hope that Australia would continue to assist Vietnam in training cadres, supplying equipment and setting up a verification centre while considering the signing of agreements on recruiting Vietnamese guest workers and granting one-year visas for Vietnamese students aged between 18-31.

He also asked the two countries to complete negotiations on the signing of agreements on legal assistance, science and technology, and customs cooperation in order to foster multifaceted cooperation on both sides.

PM Dung thanked Australia for providing official development assistance (ODA) loans to Vietnam to conduct research on building Cao Lanh bridge and said he hoped that the country would continue to grant ODA for Vietnam to complete its construction.

As an ASEAN Chair, PM Dung pledged to do the best to promote ASEAN cooperation with partners, including Australia, and called for Australia’s closer cooperation and continual support for Vietnam at regional and international forums.

Australian Deputy PM Wayne Swan expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements despite the negative impact of the global financial crisis.

He was optimistic about the bright prospects for the two countries to enhance cooperation in various fields. He also promised to implement PM Dung’s proposals and showed strong determination to boost trade and economic cooperation and grant ODA for Vietnam’s infrastructure development projects.

During his meeting with his Ethiopian counterpart Meles Zenawi, PM Dung congratulated the recent election victory of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) led by Mr Zenawi.

Mr Dung said he believed that under the leadership of PM Zenawi, the Ethiopian government would gain greater achievements in its national construction and defence.

He spoke highly of Ethiopia’s role in Africa and said he hoped that Ethiopia would help Vietnam promote cooperation with Eastern African countries. In return, Vietnam will also function as a bridge linking Ethiopia to ASEAN-member nations.

PM Dung told the Ethiopian PM that Vietnam will organise an international conference on Vietnam-Africa cooperation for sustainable development in August 2010. This will provide a good opportunity for participating countries to share experiences and seek more effective measures to enhance cooperation in fields of mutual concern. High on the agenda will be food security, agricultural cooperation and poverty reduction, he noted.

Mr Dung asked Ethiopia to develop tripartite cooperation projects, particularly in the field of agriculture, and promote the exchange of business delegations in order to create a more favourable legal environment and payment methods to tighten bilateral ties.

Mr Zenawi expressed his admiration for the Vietnamese people’s past struggle against foreign aggressors, as well as their current process of national construction and development.

He affirmed that Ethiopia wants to foster its relations and cooperation with Vietnam and help the country to cooperate with African countries.

PM Meles Zenawi vowed to take an active part in the 2^nd Vietnam-Africa international conference and maintain cooperation with Vietnam in fields of mutual concern, especially in agriculture.

He also accepted PM Dung’s invitation for an official visit to Vietnam. The time for the visit will be arranged via diplomatic channels.

On the morning of June 27 (local time), before attending the official welcome ceremony for the G20 summit hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, PM Dung also met with some other leaders gathering there.