Vietnam, Australia to benefit from closer ties: Ambassador

The relationship between the two sides is in the process of developing strongly across all fields, particularly since the two countries upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership in 2018.

Amid the region and the wider world facing numerous challenges, a closer-knit relationship between will serve to benefit both countries, said Ambassador Thanh in a recent exchange with Australian researchers at the Australian Institute of International Affairs at its headquarters in Sydney.

The two nations are increasingly closely linked in line with the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries established back in 2018. Now, not only the Government, but also businesses and people of both sides drawing closer together as they seek opportunities to expand ties, the Vietnamese diplomat said.

Amid this context, a deeper understanding between the two countries, especially in matters of interest to the international community is playing an increasingly important role in consolidating trust and sharing, not only between the two governments, but also between people on both sides.

During the meeting held with Australian researchers, Ambassador Thanh said that as a mid-range country in an important geostrategic area of the world and located right next to China, Vietnam has the flexibility and strength to overcome many modern challenges relating to development.

Currently, Vietnam has grown into a middle-class country, with a GDP growth rate of 8.86% over the past nine months, among the highest in the world. In line with this, the poverty rate has also dropped sharply from 16.8% to 5%.

It is expected that by 2030, the Vietnamese middle class will increase from 35 million people to 50 million.

Ambassador Thanh emphasised that during the development process of Vietnam over the past five decades, Australia has made a significant contribution and provided important support to Vietnam across multiple fields, typically education, infrastructure, and vaccines.

The two countries also share common views on a number of regional issues such as supporting the Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), as well helping countries in difficulty as well as supporting the role of existing multilateral mechanisms such as the UN, the WTO, the rule of law, as well as the responsibilities of members.

On the basis of co-operation achievements over recent times amid the growing commonalities between the two countries, co-operation opportunities between Vietnam and Australia will become increasing substantial in the near future, particularly with Vietnam set to  become the world's 22nd largest economy by 2050, as predicted by PwC, with Australia to become a member of the G7.

Ambassador Thanh said that in order to take advantage of these opportunities, the two countries must strive to continue to strengthen bilateral relations, people-to-people connections, and co-operation in innovation, business and upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership.

At a regional level, Ambassador Thanh said that Australia and Vietnam need to make joint efforts to respond to traditional and non-traditional security challenges, combat economic coercion, and step up ties in the Mekong and Pacific regions in terms of education and training, infrastructure, agriculture, and fishing.

The researchers and guests attending the exchange were very impressed with the thorough information provided Vietnam that Ambassador Thanh.

Many questions have been raised to learn more deeply about Vietnamese views on hot regional and global issues such as the East Sea, the construction of dams to store water in the upper Mekong River or the Russia - Ukraine conflict, as well as Vietnam's relationship with a number of countries around the world.

He also clearly explained the country’s stance to help Australian scholars accurately understand the nation’s external policy.

Ambassador Thanh therefore emphasised that, in a world with strong changes, the combination of Vietnam and Australia will make the two countries promote their strengths, take advantage of opportunities, and become more resilient to jointly contribute to peace and stability in the region.