Hanoi (VNA) – Presiden♐t Tran Dai Quang lauded the contributions made by Australian Ambassador Hugh Borrowman to deepening the comprehen♏sive partnership between Vietnam and Australia, when he bid farewell to him in Hanoi on May 26.

The President expressed satisfaction that the political relations between the two countries have flourished while trade and investment have progressed effectively.  Australia is among the top trading partners and investors of Vietnam with trade turnover reaching around 5 billion USD in 2015. Cooperation in security, defence, tourism and education is flourishing, he said. The two countries have coordinated effectively in many regional and international forums as well as sharing common standpoints at multilateral forums, he added.  The leader thanked Australia’s help and support through ODA projects and highlighted that Australian enterprises and investments have actively contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.  He asserted that Vietnam persists in stepping up its comprehensive partnership with Australia, regarding the country as its leading partner.  He suggested that the two countries should continue exchanging regular high-level visits. He also invited Governor-General Peter John Cosgrove to visit Vietnam in 2017.  In response, the Australian Ambassador attested to do his utmost to further the two countries’ friendship and cooperation in his new posts. He added that Australia will continue to partner with Vietnam in development cooperation programmes, focusing more on the private sector and female entrepreneurs. He stressed the importance of people-to-people exchange in the two countries’ relations, revealing his country’s plan to expand the programme on sending its students to work in Vietnam.-VNA