PM Chinh hosted a reception on November 24 for Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Donald Males, who is currently on a visit to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese PM welcomed the Australian guest’s visit to Vietnam amid the two countries looking forward to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations ahead in 2023.

He outlined his belief that the visit will contribute to boosting bilateral defense ties as a way of developing relations between the two countries in line with the strategic partnership, thereby contributing to the peace, prosperity, and development of each country, the region, and the wider world.

Vietnam consistently adheres to a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralisation, as well as being a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community as a whole. In particular, the nation attaches great importance to relations and highly appreciates Australia's potential and position within the international arena, PM Chinh told his guest.

The Vietnamese Government chief went on to express his delight at the strong development of fruitful bilateral ties which are in accordance with the co-operation documents signed between both sides.

The Vietnamese Government leader highly appreciates the results of defence links between the two countries that have emerged, especially in terms of training, UN peacekeeping missions, military medicine, information sharing, and experience exchanges between the two countries' troops and services. This is along with joint efforts to overcome war consequences and co-operation within the framework of multilateral mechanisms, especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

PM Chinh also hailed Australia's political, trade, and investment co-operation and its timely support for Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control efforts. Other areas include the field of peacekeeping, especially in the transport of the level 2 field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan.

PM Chinh therefore suggested that the two sides continue carrying out existing areas of co-operation in accordance with the signed agreements, with a specific focus on holding high-level meetings and exchange activities, especially preparation for the official visit to Australia by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

In line with this, the two sides should give priority to stepping UN peacekeeping co-operation, PM Chinh said, while asking Australia to continue supporting the transport of Vietnamese Level 2 field hospital to South Sudan in 2023, as well as in the following years. This will demonstrate the responsibility of both sides in taking on common international issues.

In response, Australian Deputy PM and Defense Minister Males expressed his joy at witnessing the outstanding development of the Vietnamese side, especially compared to 30 years ago when he first came to Vietnam.

The Australian Defence Minister went on to propose that the two countries move to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023, the year that both sides are due to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. He suggested that the two nations seek to accelerate the enforcement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as well as other cooperation mechanisms to take bilateral co-operation to new heights, especially in the fields of trade, investment, climate change response, education, training, defence, and security.

PM Chinh welcomed co-operation initiatives with the Australian defence official and hoped that in his position, Minister Males will continue to pay close attention to expanding and deepening the mutual relationship. This should be done along with strengthening political ties and economic, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries as a means of contributing to ensuring a common sustainable supply chain between the two countries, as well as in the region and in the world.