Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the proposal while meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Copenhagen on December 17. The two PMs are joining other heads of state to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Denmark.

He also proposed that Australia consider bilateral negotiations of a labour cooperation agreement and an agreement on mutual recognition of quarantine results, expand cooperation in vocational training and finance the Cao Lanh bridge project.

Mr Dung thanked Australia for providing its assistance to Vietnam’s environmental protection and climate change adaptation programmes, saying the two countries have cooperated in training personnel and organising workshops on hydro-meteorology and climate change.

He proposed that Australia support the transfer of weather forecasting technology and provide the results of research onto climate change in Asia and the Pacific.

PM Rudd echoed Mr Dung, saying Australia and Vietnam should work hard on a programme of action to realise the joint statement, which is to be signed during his scheduled visit to Vietnam in 2010.

He said both countries should soon sign a memorandum of understanding to speed up a dialogue mechanism for national defence and security.

He voiced Australia’s desire to cooperate with Vietnam in environmental protection and weather forecasting. He said Australia is interested in building Cao Lanh bridge in Vietnam and will work with the Asian Development Bank to fund the project.

Mr Rudd proposed that both countries increase coordination in regional and international forums, especially when Vietnam assumes the chair of ASEAN in 2010.

In another meeting with Israeli President Simon Peres the same day, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said the opening of the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel in May 2009 aimed to promote multifaceted cooperation with the Jewish nation. He acknowledged Israeli assistance to Vietnam in education and training.

He proposed that both countries should speed up negotiations and sign agreements on investment protection and encouragement, labour cooperation and maritime transport to promote bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment. He suggested both sides establish joint venture businesses in telecommunications, informatics, food and chemical industries.

He expressed his hope that Israel would continue to train officials and grant scholarships to Vietnamese students, especially in biotechnology and high-technology. He said he will soon send Vietnamese ministers to Israel to explore specific cooperation areas.

President Simon Peres said Israel is ready to share cooperation experience with Vietnam in its strong areas such as agriculture, biotechnology and health care. He expressed his desire to boost cooperation with Vietnam in other areas, and invited Mr Dung to visit Israel.