Experts optimistic about prospects of Vietnam - Australia relations
Vietnam and Australia boast close relations and the potential for developing their ties in multiple areas within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, some Australian experts have said.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during Vietnam visit (Photo: VNA)
Sydney (VNA) – Vietnam and Australia boast closerelations and the potential for developing their ties in multiple areas within bothbilateral and multilateral frameworks, some Australian experts have said.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse are scheduledto attend a special summit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN - Australia dialogue relations, and pay an official visitto Australia starting March 5 at theinvitation of his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
Talking to Vietnam News Agency ahead of thetrip, Hal Hill, an emeritus professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the AustralianNational University, said the two countries now share close relations,the Vietnamese community in Australia is relatively large, while bilateraltrade has been growing strongly over the recent past.
He noted that Australia views Vietnam as an economic “star”in Asia. From one of the world’s poorest countries in the 1980s, since the Doimoi (Renewal) policy was implemented, especially in this century, Vietnam hasemerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. Besides, from alow-income nation, it has become a middle-income economy attractive to manyinternational investors.
In the future, the Southeast Asian nation islikely to welcome more investors from around the world, he opined, expressinghis optimism about the future of its economy though challenges are still ahead.
Hal Hill added that to him, Vietnam is one of highlyimpressive success stories.
Speaking highly of the development of Vietnam and itsrelations with Australia, Greg Earl, former member of the Australia - ASEAN Counciland former Southeast Asia correspondent at The Australian Financial Review, perceived that thetwo countries’ relations form one of the most outstanding chapters of Australia’sforeign policy towards to the region in recent years.
Vietnamand Australia have found out more space for cooperation in both security andeconomic affairs, with their cooperation speed much faster than many people’spredictions. Vietnam has established itself as a stable and trustworthydiplomatic partner, he went on.
TheVietnamese community in Australia has also played a major role in promotingbilateral cooperation and enhancing the two countries’ cohesion, the expert said.
To maintain and further bolster the current soundrelations, Earl suggested that the two countries step up connections withinbilateral as well as ASEAN - Australia frameworks to strengthen economic andsecurity ties. They should also foster people-to-people exchanges in the fieldsof education and employment.
Basing on the areas both countries are interested in, theyshould form reciprocal economic links like the connections Australia has hadwith North Asian countries, according to the expert./.
A symposium on strengthening the Vietnam-Australia technical, trade and investment collaboration in the cattle raising sector took place in Hanoi on November 14, with the participation of over 100 delegates from government bodies, associations, businesses, and universities of the two countries.
Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Nguyen Xuan Thang has urged the Vietnam Australia Centre (VAC) to further promote research and policy consulting activities.
2023 marked the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties (1973-2023). In the past half a century, the two countries have cooperated in an increasingly extensive, intensive, and effective manner in multiple spheres. They will continue to expand cooperative ties through various projects in the future.
Representatives from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam recently visited the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai to work on the care for suspectedly smuggled wallabies.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during Vietnam visit (Photo: VNA) 
