Hanoi (VNA) – As Vietnam and Australia have raised their relationshipto the status of strategic partnership, both countries should now step upcollaboration in the foundational sectors of economy, trade and investment,security and defence, education and training, and high-tech agriculture, saidPresident Tran Dai Quang.

Hosting the reception for Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives of Australia Tony Smith in Hanoi on July 24, President Quang spokehighly of the outcomes achieved during the talks held earlier betweenChairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Smith. He agreedwith the content of cooperation between the two countries in general, and theirlegislative bodies in particular, for the time to come.

He underlined that it is necessary for the two countries to facilitateconditions to enhance people-to-people exchange, and coordination in culture,tourism, and sports.

The State leader spoke highly of the education collaboration between bothsides, expressing his hope that the Australian Government would continue itssupport for Vietnam in developing high-quality human resources.

Vietnam will closely work with Australia to carry out the New Colombo Plan, a100 million USD initiative to increase the number of Australians studying partof their degree in the region to deepen their knowledge and understanding ofAsia, and build people-to-people ties, he noticed.

President Quang expressed his wishes that Australia will continue to createfavourable conditions for the Vietnamese people community so that they cancontribute to the development in each nation as well as the bilateral ties.

Vietnam, in return, will facilitate Australian citizens’ travel, study andinvestment in the country, he said.

He showed his appreciation of Australia’s official development assistance (ODA)for Vietnam, saying that the assistance has made positive contributions to thesocio-economic development in the country. Cao Lanh bridge, which wasinaugurated last May, is a vivid illustration, he noted.

Also, he applauded the close coordination between the two countries at regionaland international forums, particularly the United Nations (UN), ASEAN, andASEAN-led mechanisms.

He thanked Australia for helping Vietnam in successfully organising the APECYear 2017 and supporting the Southeast Asian nation in its bid to become anon-permanent member of the UN for the 2020-2021 tenure.

President Quang also took the occasion to convey his greetings to Governor-GeneralPeter Cosgrove, and many other Australian leaders.

Smith, for his part, lauded the fruitful cooperation between the two states andparliaments in the past time, especially people-to-people exchanges, stressingthat visits made by leaders from both sides had consistently aimed atconsolidating political trust and comprehensive cooperation between the twonations.

Vietnam and Australia have enjoyed sound collaboration in trade, and educationand training, he said, adding that the Australian House of Representatives willserve as a bridge to enhance the ties.

Many Australian businesses have gained great success in agriculture, and theywant to strengthen their cooperation with Vietnamese partners in the time ahead,he stressed.

Tony Smith began is on his three-day official visit toVietnam at the invitation of Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National AssemblyNguyen Thi Kim Ngan. –VNA