Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc received Australian Senate President Scott Ryan in Hanoi on January21, saying that Vietnam-Australia relations are now at the best level ever.

Welcoming his guest’s official visit to Vietnam,PM Phuc expressed his belief that the trip will help consolidate the twocountries’ strategic partnership as well as connections between the twoparliaments.

He said the Vietnamese Government will workclosely with its Australian counterpart to realise the joint statement on theestablishment of the strategic partnership.

The two sides will effectively maintain existingcooperation mechanisms and promote the implementation of new ones within theframework of the strategic partnership, including meetings between theirforeign ministers, defence ministers, and ministers in charge of economicaffairs.

Regarding measures to bring bilateral trade andinvestment on par with the strategic partnership, he said the countries shouldreduce and remove trade barriers, especially to agricultural and aquaticproducts like fresh fruit and shrimp, while facilitating activities of eachother’s businesses.

Vietnam and Australia should also enhance cooperationin education-training, culture, tourism, sports and people-to-people exchange, creatingsolid foundation for expanding ties across the board at both central and locallevels.

In particular, they need to strengthen labourcooperation, the PM said, suggesting them make use of the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to increase thequota for Vietnamese workers under the Work and Holiday Programme, thus helpingincrease high-quality labourers for both countries.

The Government leader appreciated Australia’scontinued provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam,affirming that the ODA has always been used effectively and contributed tolocal development. 

PM Phuc also spoke highly of Australia’s defenceties with Vietnam, especially in training in English and peacekeepingactivities. He particularly welcomed its assistance in transporting allequipment and servicemen of Vietnam to the United Nations peacekeeping missionin South Sudan.

He asked Australia to keep cooperating withVietnam to ensure national security through controlling and handling terroristindividuals or organisations who may take advantage of Australia’s territory toconduct sabotage activities against Vietnam.

At the meeting, PM Phuc also hailed the twocountries’ close coordination at regional and international forums,particularly the UN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and theASEAN-led mechanisms. He thanked Australia for helping Vietnam successfully organisethe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Year 2017 and pledging to supportthe ASEAN nation’s candidacy for non-permanent membership at the UN SecurityCouncil for 2020-2021.

In 2019, Vietnam will keep working withAustralia to ensure the success of high-level regional meetings like the EastAsia Summit, ASEAN-Australia meetings, and APEC meetings, he said, adding thatas the seventh country to ratify the CPTPP, it will also cooperate stronglywith Australia to implement this deal.

In terms of the East Sea issue, the PM saidVietnam highly values and hopes that Australia will continue the strong voiceand support for ASEAN and Vietnam’s stance on this regard. He called onAustralia to promote the serious and full implementation of the Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the early finalisation of a legallybinding Code of Conduct in the waters.

He also expressed his hope for more support forVietnam to improve its sea management capacity, build and carry out maritimepolicies, and train experts on the law of the sea.

For his part, Australian Senate President ScottRyan said his country pays special attention to the cooperation with Vietnam,noting he is happy that bilateral relations are developing strongly in allfields.

More and more young Vietnamese have come tostudy in Australia, which reflects the increasingly solidified trust betweenthe two countries, he said, noting that under the New Colombo Plan, 2,500Australian lecturers and students will come to Vietnam, and they will be animportant bridge and driving force for bilateral ties in public investment,innovation and education-training.

Regarding the thriving parliamentary links, Ryansaid he believes that these connections will develop even more comprehensivelyand strongly in the future. He added Australia always respects Vietnam’sproposals for enhancing bilateral ties.

He also appreciated the Vietnamese Government’ssupport for the two countries’ relations and called for more concreteactivities to promote partnerships, especially in trade.

Both sides want a peaceful and stable region forsustainable economic growth, the President said, adding that his country alwaysrecognises Vietnam’s efforts in this regard and UN peacekeeping activities,which shows Vietnam as a responsible member of the international community.

Ryan said as President of the Australian Senate,he will make utmost efforts to support the Southeast Asian nation’s developmentand integration into the world.-VNA