The event was attended by Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Member of the Politburo, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council.

Under the theme Building Public Service Excellence in A New Era of Growth, the forum brought together more than 500 senior leaders, policymakers, scholars, and innovation experts from both countries. Participants represented a wide range of sectors, from ministries and research institutes to international organizations and private enterprises.

In his opening remarks, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics President Nguyen Xuan Thang highlighted the growing depth and trust in bilateral relations between Vietnam and Australia. He noted that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries is seeing strong development, thereby opening up plenty of opportunities for cooperation across key areas, notably administrative reform, public governance innovation, and civil service capacity building.

According to Nguyen Xuan Thang, as Vietnam pushes forward comprehensive and synchronized reforms, alongside strategic decisions to achieve high-income developed country status by 2045, it has clearly identified one of the key breakthrough areas in institutional reform: building an elite civil service, comprising officials and civil servants who are competent, reputable, fully ethical, professional, dynamic, creative, and dedicated to serving the nation and the people.

As a leading nation, Australia has carried out many successful models in public administration: from evidence-based governance mechanisms and transparent, equitable public service systems to applying data and digital technologies in policy design, implementation, and monitoring.

Lessons from Australia, a country with a modern, transparent, and efficiently functioning public administration, will provide valuable references for Vietnam to explore innovative approaches to institutional reform and effective methods and mechanisms for enhancing national governance.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, therefore, emphasized that the Vietnam-Australia Forum 2025 serves as a policy dialogue space and platform for experience sharing among leaders, scholars, experts, and practitioners from both countries.

Echoing the Academy President’s remarks, Governor-General Sam Mostyn praised the effective cooperation achieved under the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

She noted that in 2025, the two countries will continue addressing complex global challenges, including trade fluctuations, economic growth, digital and energy transitions, climate change, gender equality, and public sector reform.

Simultaneously, Vietnam is entering a new era with a determination to become a high-income nation by 2045. Achieving this vision requires a dynamic economy, a growing private sector, and modern, robust public institutions capable of meeting emerging demands.

Governor-General Mostyn described Vietnam’s ambitious new public sector reform program as the most daring since the 1986 Doi Moi (Renewal) process and as the central theme of this year’s forum. She emphasized that the forum provides an important opportunity for both countries, as sovereign nations and regional partners, to exchange ideas and learn from each other on public sector reform, demonstrating their long-standing friendship.

Visiting Vietnam during the 80th National Day celebration, Governor-General Mostyn also showed great joy in witnessing the country’s vitality and beauty, describing Vietnam’s 80-year journey of development as an inspiring story of resilience, adaptability, and remarkable achievements.

The Vietnam-Australia Forum 2025 also marked a milestone for reviewing progress since the partnership upgrade in 2024 and reaffirming a shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and self-reliant region. Discussions focused on Vietnam’s reform priorities, including law-making process, digital transformation, international integration, and private sector growth. The forum also recognized Australia’s long-term support in enhancing Vietnam’s public sector capacity and human resource development.

Especially, three senior Australian public service leaders, Barry Sterland (Productivity Commission Commissioner), Jo Talbot (Deputy Secretary, Australian Public Service Commission), and Marcel Van Kints (Australian Bureau of Statistics), brought practical ideas and strategies aimed at building smarter and more flexible governance. They shared insights and led lively sessions with delegates from both countries on digital innovation, data-driven policymaking, and institutional capacity building, highlighting how Vietnam and Australia are jointly tackling common challenges and building future-ready public institutions.

State President hosts banquet in honour of Australian Governor-General

State President Luong Cuong and his spouse hosted a state banquet in Hanoi on September 10 evening in honour of Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn, her spouse and a high-level Australian delegation, who are on a four-day state visit to Vietnam.

Australian Governor-General arrives in Hanoi for state visit to Vietnam

VOV.VN - Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn and her spouse arrived in Hanoi on the evening of September 9, commencing their four-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong and his wife.

Australian Governor-General set to begin State visit to Vietnam

VOV.VN - Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn and her spouse are scheduled to arrive in Hanoi on September 9 to pay a four-day State visit through September 12, at the invitation of President Luong Cuong and his spouse.