This is the second visit to Australia by a Vietnamese Party leader since General Secretary Do Muoi’s visit in August 1995.

The purpose of Mr Manh’s visit is to strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Australia and to pave the way for the establishment of a comprehensive partnership in the near future.

The visit takes place at a time when Vietnam is actively implementing a foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, cooperation and development and is integrating into the region and the world. Meanwhile, Australia is adopting new policies to continue to maintain social stability and development. Both countries have encountered numerous difficulties as a result of the global financial meltdown and economic recession and are making every effort to ride out the storm.

Relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Australia have developed strongly since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973. Both sides have constantly maintained and increased their exchanges of high-level official visits.

Bilateral cooperation has been expanded in all areas, from politics to economics, trade, investment, education and tourism, especially after Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s Australian visit in October 2008. Currently, Australia is Vietnam’s 7^th largest trade partner and its third largest export market. Two-way trade has increased considerably, reaching nearly US$5.56 billion last year.

Australia’s official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam has also risen, hitting AUD106 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year. Australia has opened more banks in Vietnam and is also investing in a number of important economic fields.
So far Australia has invested in 186 projects in Vietnam capitalised at US$1.04 billion, ranking 19^th among foreign investors in the country. These projects are focused on construction and industry, services, agro-forestry and fisheries, processing, education and training. 

Education is one of the priority areas in bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. Currently, more than 17,000 Vietnamese students are studying in Australia and another 12,000 are attending Australian schools in Vietnam.

Labour cooperation between Vietnam and Australia began in 2006. In the first 6 months of this year, about 1,000 Vietnamese trainees were sent to work in Australia.

The two countries have also worked closely in international forums such as ASEAN, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). They have joined regional and international efforts to address new challenges and threats to maintain peace and security and fulfil the UN Millennium Development Goals for sustainable development.

After Australia, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh will pay an official visit to New Zealand at the invitation of Prime Minister John Key.

Cooperative relations between Vietnam and New Zealand have fared well since they established diplomatic ties in June 1975. The two countries have signed many agreements, including those on economic and trade cooperation, investment protection and promotion, and aviation, laying a firm foundation for development in various areas. Last year, two-way trade hit more than US$300 million.

During a visit to New Zealand in May 2005 by the then Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, the two countries signed a statement affirming their determination to establish a stable, durable and comprehensive partnership in the next decade. During another visit to New Zealand in September 2007, State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his hosts reaffirmed their desires to increase bilateral cooperation in all areas. Currently, New Zealand is Vietnam’s 33^rd most important trade partner.

Economic, trade and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and these two countries is expected to grow and flourish after the recently signed ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area agreement takes effect.