Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is a dynamic economy in a really dynamic economic region and what Australia wants to be is a partner in that development which benefits both countries and the region, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong told the press during her ongoing official visit to Vietnam from August 19-21.

Wong affirmed that Australia gives high priority to enhancing extensive cooperation with Southeast Asian nations, with Vietnam regarded as an important partner and a leading voice in the region.

She said she was pleased to work on the comprehensive strategic partnership and welcome the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Australia in March last year. Both sides have completed over 90% of the goals, which is an example of the importance in the relationship.

Among the top 10 trading partners for Vietnam, Australia will continue to work with the Southeast Asian nation on key priorities on its path to becoming a high income country outlined by its leaders, she added.

She cited the first transaction on a very important commercial transaction with VP Bank, with partners from UK, Japan, Canada and Australia, as an example, saying that it is a 350 million USD line facility.

About Vietnam’s role and contributions in the region, particularly within ASEAN and other multilateral cooperation mechanisms, Wong described the country as a very important regional leader with a long history of understanding the importance of its sovereignty.

Vietnam has always understood the way in which it has to safeguard sovereignty, and has brought that leadership and insight to its role within ASEAN, she said, acknowledging and congratulating Vietnam on the 80th anniversary of its National Day and 30th year of its ASEAN membership.

According to her, Vietnam understands the importance of rules and norms. That is international law like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other norms which ensure that countries like Australia and Vietnam understand the importance of law and norms to safeguard their own sovereignty.

Asked about how Australia could support Vietnam in key economic areas that the country is currently promoting, such as the digital economy, the green economy, and sustainable development, Wong said Southeast Asia is projected to be the world's fourth largest economy by 2040, and Vietnam is a big part of that.

Australia has developed a Southeast Asia economic strategy which is seeking to increase its economic engagement with the region, including Vietnam. Its investment will finance sustainable infrastructure and social projects, she said, revealing that the National Australia Bank has an additional investment in Vietnam.

On sustainability and the Mekong, she announced an additional 50 million AUD package at the foreign leaders' and foreign ministers’ discussion the same day, which will launch six new and expanded climate resilience activities and water security activities in Mekong countries. That forms part of the bigger Mekong package. Moreover, 30 additional Australia Awards scholarships for Mekong countries will be offered.

Turning to the role of people-to-people exchanges, culture, education and sci-tech in bilateral relationship in the long term, Wong said there are 37,000 Vietnamese students studying Australia, and 17,000 Australian fellows in Vietnam. Over 160,000 Vietnamese have chosen Australia as their education provider over the past years, a very important part of bilateral relationship.

She praised the large Vietnamese community in Australia who are very proud of their culture and have shown the breadth of Vietnamese culture and history to Australia.

Assessing recent cooperation between the two foreign ministries, she was grateful for the eighth engagement with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. The two sides are strategically aligned, and both want peace, stability, and prosperity, and are working together for that.

As Vietnam gears up for the 80th National Day, she conveyed her warmest congratulations to the Vietnamese Government and people.

ꦐ “We can have this strong friendship and partnership now, I think is so important. We know the history, and we also know who we are to each other today, and we are friends”, she added./.