Canberra (VNA) – PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited the Australian National University (ANU), oneof the world’s top ten research universities, right after his arrival inCanberra on March 14 (local time).

Talking with the ANU leaders,lecturers and students, the PM highlighted Vietnam’s dynamic economy, sayingthe country has set up trade ties with over 230 countries and territories worldwideand signed 12 free trade agreements (FTAs).

Vietnam has also joinedmany international organisations such as the UN, the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), he said.

The leader highly valuedAustralia’s support for and cooperation with Vietnam, especially in education,high-tech agriculture and climate change response, adding that the twocountries have also cooperated in many multilateral forums and engaged in manyregional trade and investment agreements, with the latest being the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Vietnamand Australia have also shared viewpoints on issues on keeping peace andensuring regional security, including the East Sea matter, PM Phuc said.

He alsoinformed the ANU leaders, lecturers and students that during his ongoing visitto Australia, the two sides will officially elevate their relationship to a strategicpartnership.

Respondingto ANU Chancellor GarethEvans’s question regarding Vietnam’s business environment, the PM saidthe Vietnamese Government has continuously improved the domestic businessenvironment, which has been recognised by prestigious organisations like the WBand the World Economic Forum.

Mentioningprospects for educational cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, heexpressed his hope that the ANU will expand its connection with Vietnameseeducational facilities to exchange experience and students.

“We areready to create the best conditions for the ANU and other universities ofAustralia to step up educational collaboration with Vietnam,” he stressed.

He notedthat the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training is scheduled to sign acooperation agreement with the Australian Department of Education and Trainingfor 2018-2023.

Followingthe talk, PM Phuc had a roundtable with leaders of the ANU, during which he emphasisedthe fruitful relationship between Vietnam and Australia, particularly ineducation and training.

He notedthat about 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in Australia, the highestnumber of Vietnamese students in a foreign country, saying the figure reflectsthe confidence of Vietnamese students and their parents in Australianuniversities.

Besides,up to 60,000 Vietnamese graduates from Australian educational facilities havereturned home to serve the nation, the leader added.

PM Phucsaid apart from cooperation in trade, investment and other areas, theaffiliation in education-training should be intensified after the two countrieselevate their relationship to a strategic partnership.

Later thesame day, PM Phuc met with the Vietnamese Embassy’s staff and representativesof the Vietnamese community in Australia.

 

The leaderasked the embassy and the overseas Vietnamese to contribute more to enhancingtrade ties between Vietnam and Australia, surpassing the present figure of 7billion USD.

The Partyand State always consider the Vietnamese community abroad an integral part ofthe nation, he said, noting his hope that the OVs will unite and look towardsthe homeland.

The40-member club of Vietnamese scientists in Canberra also made debut on thisoccasion.-VNA