Vietnam, Australia see more cooperation opportunities: Prof. Carl Thayer
Vietnam - Australia cooperation relations in the past five years have grown strongly with the flexible implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and possibly see more opportunities in the coming time, said Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy, the University of New South Wales.
Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy, the University of New South Wales.(Photo: VNA)
Sydney (VNA) 🌳– Vietnam - Australia cooperationrelations in the past five years have grown strongly with the flexibleimplementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and possibly see more opportunitiesin the coming time, said Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian DefenceForce Academy, the University of New South Wales.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency about the action programme toimplement the Vietnam- Australia Strategic Partnership for the period of 2020-2023when the two countries celebrate the 5th anniversary of their strategicpartnership (March 15, 2018- March 15, 2023), the professor highlighted that thestrategic partnership focuses on three pillars - strengthening economic-tradelinkages; deepen strategic-defense-security cooperation; and building knowledge andinnovation partnerships. The first pillar of trade and investment gains the most successas the bilateral trade has continued to grow, he said, adding Vietnamese agricultural exports still need a better access to theAustralian market, he said. The second pillar of strategic-defense-security cooperationshould be deepened although the two countries have signed an MOU on defensecooperation, a joint vision statement, and joined peacekeeping activities,training programmes and ship visits, the professor said. The third pillar ofknowledge and innovation has not got off the ground, he said. In addition to the three focused pillars, Vietnam and Australiastill have many opportunities and potential for cooperation in other fieldsincluding agriculture, tourism, and climate change. As the two countries are expectedto elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the professor said that they will boost cooperation intrade-investment, defense security, and climate change - a global issue. “If we do move up to a comprehensive strategic partnership, wemust elevate the foreign and defense ministerial meetings to a two-plus-twoformula. Both meet at the same time and then they meet separately. So whenVietnamese ministers come to Australia, all four meet, and then the foreign ministergoes to his counterpart and the defense minister and we look across,” he said. Commenting on the advantages and difficulties in the next phaseof the bilateral relationship, he said that strategic trust between the two countries is at a high level. Regarding difficulties, according to Professor Carl Thayer, although Vietnam and Australia have many co-strategicpoints, jointly supporting a safe regional environment and ensuring freedom ofnavigation, they have not reached a consensus in some areas. Another issue isthat the two sides need to promote the relationship to become a more reciprocaland equal relationship in the future so that both sides can benefit in allfields./.
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan has called on Western Australia's businesses to invest in strong fields such as food processing industry, agricultural biotechnology, and education- training in the southern hub.
Vietnam and Australia have reached the targets set in the action plan for implementing the strategic partnership in the 2020 - 2023 period despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr Nguyen Hong Hai from the Centre for Policy Futures at the University of Queensland of Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 14 for Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, during which he suggested the two sides coordinate together closely to well organise celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties this year, including thorough preparations for the exchange of delegations in the coming time.
The political and national defence-security relations between Vietnam and Australia have seen marked qualitative improvements over the past five years, a diplomat has said.
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.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy, the University of New South Wales.(Photo: VNA) 
