Australia – Vietnam’s long-term partner in Mekong Delta: Ambassador
Australia has been a long-term partner of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta, affirmed Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie during a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
Can Tho (VNA) - Australia has been a long-term partner of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta, affirmed Australian Ambassador RobynMudie during a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The ambassador expressed her delight to be back to the Mekong Delta, following her visit in December 2020, saying it’s a wonderfulopportunity for her to reconnect with the people and the environment in theregion, and to see some of the chances that have been taking place in the pastyear.
She noted that Australia has invested 650 millionAUD in projects in the region since 2000 like Cao Lanh and My Thuan bridges, along withothers in agriculture and climate change adaptation.
“At the moment, we are focusing on projects whichlook at maintaining productivity and environmental resilience because we knowthat this is vital to the Mekong Delta’s ability to adapt to a changingclimate, and to preserve food security, sustainability and development in thefuture,” the diplomat said.
She added that Australia has a number of interestingprojects underway, including one connecting aquaculture farmers to enhance productivityand profitability, helping them maximise productivity.
Another is in the Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province, she said,further explaining that it is informed by the AI and high technology solutions,which are geared to supporting sustainable environmental management in thepark.
The ambassador also highlighted the Mekong-AustraliaPartnership, worth 232 million AUD over four years across all Mekong countries,and support through the Australian Centre for International AgriculturalResearch (ACIAR), which has been focusing on the Mekong Delta for almost 30years, and collectively invested 23 million AUD in 20 collaboration projects.
Mekong Delta provinces have been working together on shared solutions to climate change. (Photo: VNA)
Asked about Vietnam’s efforts in climate changeresponse, Mudie said Mekong Delta provinces have been working together onshared solutions, and commended the Vietnamese government’s decision tointroduce an integrated response plan for the Mekong Delta’s development.
“This will be really important to connectgovernment, business and community so that all can work together to identifywhere the challenges are and to work out sustainable and shared long-termmitigation strategies,” she said.
The ambassador expressed a hope that the governmentwill take forward its plan for an integrated response, stressing that Australiawill look for opportunities that match its existing support once the plan isadopted. /.
The Vietnam-Australia partnership is on the right track with effective economic, trade and investment cooperation in the recent years, but with nearly 2 billion USD in 550 projects as of the end of 2021, Australian investment in Vietnam has not matched potential, according to Assoc. Prof. Chu Hoang Long from the Australia National University.
The governments of Vietnam and Australia are promoting bilateral comprehensive cooperation in various fields, towards the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties in February 2023, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh has said.
Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Australia is growing strongly, reaching 1.38 billion USD in the first quarter of 2022, a surge of 32.36 percent against the same period last year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
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.
Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie (Photo: VNA) 
Mekong Delta provinces have been working together on shared solutions to climate change. (Photo: VNA) 
