Sydney (VNA) — Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam has accompanied a delegation from central Hue city led by Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phuong on a working visit to Tasmania, aiming to foster all-round cooperation with the island state.

During the trip from August 12 to 14, the delegation met with Tasmania Governor Barbara Baker, Hobart city Mayor Anna Reynolds, and held a roundtable with University of Tasmania leaders.

Ambassador Tam highlighted that since upgrading bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March last year, cooperation between Vietnamese and Australian localities has accelerated. Vietnam views Tasmania as a partner with strong potential in education, energy, sustainable development, trade, investment, and tourism, he said.

On education, the ambassador urged stronger collaboration between the University of Tasmania and Vietnamese institutions, including vocational training, and requested that Tasmania continue prioritising Vietnam in its socio-economic development strategy for the 2026-2030 period.

The Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hue emphasised shared environmental, historical, and cultural ties between the city and Tasmania, noting opportunities to expand cultural exchanges, education, tourism, and trade. He encouraged Tasmanian authorities to promote investment, science and technology, and clean energy partnerships, and invited the University of Tasmania to explore collaboration with Hue University.

Both proposed establishing a sister-city relationship between Hue and Hobart or a broader partnership with Tasmania, extending invitations for Tasmanian officials to attend Hue’s International Arts Festival Week in mid-2026.

Tasmanian leaders expressed strong commitment to deepening cooperation across sectors and praised the Vietnamese community’s contributions to Tasmania’s multicultural society. Governor Baker and Mayor Reynolds welcomed the delegation and agreed to enhance cultural, tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties with Hue.

Tasmanian officials noted Vietnam is a priority partner in their development strategy for the 2019-2025 period, with growing trade, investment, education, technology, and human resource collaboration.

Trade between Tasmania and Vietnam has grown 15% annually, reaching 340 million AUD (221.09 million USD) in 2024, making Vietnam Tasmania’s fifth largest export market. Vietnam ranks as the sixth largest source of international students in Tasmania. Vietnamese companies like Vingroup, TH True Milk, and VitaDairy have invested in golf courses, eco-resorts, and dairy farms locally.

Tasmania is Australia’s leading maritime training centre and excels in agricultural research, clean energy, metal production, premium foods, salmon farming, and specialty fruits such as cherries. Tasmanian leaders are eager to enhance cooperation with Vietnam and Hue city in these fields.

Phuong also led a forum between the Vietnamese Business Association of Tasmania (VITA) and Hue enterprises. VITA Chair and TPS Energy CEO Tien Ho outlined VITA’s activities with over 60 members and proposed collaborative opportunities, pledging to strengthen ties with Hue.

During their stay, the Vietnamese delegation visited the art gallery of Vietnamese artists Tran Xuan Thao and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Suong—the largest Vietnamese community arts venue in Tasmania - promoting Vietnamese culture, which has been widely praised by local leaders.

♍ Ambassador Tam also met with prominent Vietnamese community members in Tasmania, encouraging them to maintain strong ties with Vietnam and support the bilateral partnership, especially with Tasmania./.