Vietnam considered a friend and close partner in ASEAN

During the meeting with the senator and Foreign Minister of Australia Penny Wong, the top Vietnamese legislator stated that this marks the first official visit to Australia by a senior Vietnamese leader. The trip will help to carry out the nation’s foreign policy after successfully organising its 13th National Party Congress and leadership election headed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

NA Chairman Hue expressed great appreciation for the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for closely co-ordinating to prepare for this visit by the high-ranking NA delegation and congratulated Australia on successfully holding federal elections in May, during which Penny Wong was elected as Foreign Minister.

The Vietnamese NA leader also highly appreciated FM Wong for choosing Vietnam as one of the first countries to visit after taking office. He also outlined his impression of the Minister's response during the question-and-answer session in the Senate that the top Vietnamese legislator and his delegation attended earlier.

FM Wong said that the discussion on upgrading the relationship to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of the two countries' 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties mark an important step forward. Indeed, it demonstrates the strategic trust and joint determination to strengthen co-operation, including in economics, climate change response, and other strategic issues.

In response, NA Chairman Hue shared his host's assessment of the mutual relationship, emphasising that over the past 50 years joint relations have developed rapidly and strongly. The two countries became a comprehensive partnership in 2009, an enhanced comprehensive partnership in 2015, before growing into a strategic partnership in 2018.

The Vietnamese NA leader affirmed that the NA’s unanimous support for upgrading of the two countries' relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time when both complete all procedures.

In this spirit, NA Hue asked FM Wong to co-ordinate in accelerating the upcoming visits of the two countries' senior leaders and organise activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations ahead in 2023.

He underlined the need to finalise the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Action Program for the 2020 to 2023 period, develop a co-operation framework for the new period, as well as speeding up the implementation of the Australia - Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES). This is in addition to ramping up labour cooperation and expanding co-operation in the fields of digital transformation, energy transformation, and climate change adaptation.

NA Chairman Hue said he hopes that the two sides will strengthen parliamentary links at both bilateral and multilateral levels, as well as co-ordinating to create multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia – Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

The top Vietnamese legislator also suggested that the Australian Government continue to support and create conditions for the Vietnamese community in Australia as they continue making positive contributions to the host country and the two countries' relations.

FM Wong affirmed that in her role, she will fast-track the implementation of the proposals of the Vietnamese NA leader, including labor co-operation. She agreed to swiftly complete the procedures, thereby making it possible for seasonal and agricultural Vietnamese workers to come to work in Australia.

Most notably, the Australian side always attaches importance to co-operation with ASEAN. Indeed, they will continue to boost closer ties in the Mekong sub-region, as well as other regional issues, she added.

During his stay, NA Chairman Hue also gave a reception for representatives from the newly-established Australia-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.

He announced that the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam has also established the Vietnam - Australia Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group with 11 members, led by the Chairman of the NA’s Law Committee. He showed his wish that the two groups will play a pivotal role in exchanges between the two countries’ parliamentarians, thus enhancing mutual understanding as well as the sharing of experience and expertise between the two parliaments.

Sharon Clayton, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Australia-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, affirmed that her group will coordinate closely with the Vietnamese counterpart to promote cooperation between the two parliaments, especially in exchange experience in law making, contributing to lifting the bilateral Strategic Partnership to a new height.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Vietnamese NA Chairman observed Q&A session in the Senate and the House of Representatives.