Vietnam, Australia ties become comprehensive strategic partnership
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between their two countries.
« At the dialogue today, I and the [Australian] Prime Minister, on behalf of the governments of the two countries, announced the upgrade of the Vietnam-Australia ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, » Chinh said at a press conference in Canberra, Australia, Thursday.
He said the new framework would bolster political trust and deepen Vietnam-Australia relations, meeting the demands of both peoples.
It is also expected to entail economic, commercial, investment, and scientific cooperation, and in digital transformation, innovation, culture, education and training, and environment and climate change response, foster people-to-people exchanges and understanding in security and defense to engender peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he said.
Australian Prime Minister AnthonyAlbanese said he is glad the two countries have become important partners, which reflects their mutual vision, goals and expectations.
He said he had held discussions with Chinh on climate change, energy, digital transformation, commerce, agriculture, and defense.
He is « proud » to see the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership in fields like climate change, environment and energy cooperation, he said.
Both target achieving zero emissions by 2050, and have signed agreements to improve monitoring of the impacts of climate change on the marine environment.
They also hope to seize opportunities for technological transformation, which would bolster their capabilities in science and technology, innovation and commerce.
Bilateral trade was worth AUD25.7 billion ($16.9 billion) in 2022, a 75% increase from 2020, making Vietnam Australia’s 12th largest commercial partner.
Australia hopes to further bolster bilateral economic ties and investments.
The two prime ministers agreed to support each other and coordinate their positions at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN and other mechanisms led by ASEAN.
Chinh praised Australia for its stance on respecting international law in the region and resolving conflicts in the South China Sea through peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of 11 agreements in various fields like education, peacekeeping, investment, science and technology, innovation, and finance and banking.
Chinh said the upgrade in ties would create a new chapter in bilateral relations in terms of effectiveness, comprehensiveness and sustainability, positively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
A comprehensive strategic partnership is Vietnam’s highest level of ties with other countries.
It has diplomatic relations with around 200 countries, but only seven comprehensive strategic partners: China, Russia, India, South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
By Hoang Thuy – VnExpress.net – March 6, 2024