Hanoi (VNA) ▨– Relations between Vietnam and Australia have been built on mutual trust and friendship as well as collaboration in several fields, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goldzinowski said in a friendship exchange event held in Hanoi on March 31 to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. (February 26, 1973 - 2023). 

Attending the event were more than 150 delegates from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisation (VUFO), the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association, the Australian Embassy, and Hanoi. Australian Ambassador Andrew Goldzinowski said that the celebration of the establishment of diplomatic ties offered a good chance for both countries to look back on gained achievements and look towards the future. The Ambassador emphasised that Australia is expanding collaboration with Vietnam in many areas, including energy, education, national defence, science-technology, innovation, gender equality and cultural exchanges, among others.

Australia was one of the first countries to set up relations with Vietnam right after the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam was signed in 1973. Over the past five decades, the relationship has developed sustainably, and gained impressive achievements, and the two countries are striving to upgrade it to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

♎ In the field of innovation and high technology, Australia was one of the pioneer investors after Vietnam opened its door. Australian businesses participated in the construction of satellite transceiver stations, submarine fiber optic cables or even the first ATMs in the Southeast Asian country.

The Ambassador expressed his strong belief about the two countries’ collaboration prospects in the future which will be built on mutual trust and friendship. The diplomat affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and Australia is now at its peak. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen said that the capital city always attaches importance to its cooperation with Australian localities. He expressed his belief that with efforts of the two governments, the Vietnamese and Australian people along with the capital city of Hanoi, the bilateral friendship and multifaceted collaboration will reap more benefits.   Within the framework of the event, paintings drawn by Hanoi’s students were showcased, featuring the Vietnam-Australia friendship, and the beauty of the two countries and their capital cities. Vietnam and Australia officially established diplomatic relations 50 years ago (February 26, 1973 - 2023). Over the course of half a century, the relationship between the two countries has grown stronger and more successful. The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2009 and an Enhanced Comprehensive Partnership in 2015. After lifting the relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2018, cooperation between the two countries has been deepened and more practical. Vietnam and Australia are aiming to upgrade the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In 2023, the two sides are actively organising activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of the strategic partnership, including the organisation of high-level visits, cultural activities, tourism and people-to-people exchanges./.