Vietnam, New South Wales Seek to Deepen Cooperation in Science, Agriculture and Trade
Sydney, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam-Australia relations are developing positively and becoming increasingly substantive, effective and profound, particularly in areas that will shape the competitiveness and prosperity of both countries in the coming decades, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President Tô Lâm has said.
Tô Lâm made the remarks during a meeting with Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley on Monday as part of his state visit to Australia.
The Vietnamese leader expressed confidence that cooperation between New South Wales and Vietnamese localities would continue to expand, supported by strong political relations and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, particularly as infrastructure and air connectivity between the two countries improve.
He proposed that Australia explore the cultivation of Vietnamese coffee varieties and called for stronger cooperation in a broad range of sectors, particularly high-tech agriculture, biotechnology, agricultural processing, trade and investment.
Tô Lâm affirmed Vietnam’s support for Australia’s development and expressed the country’s readiness to work with Australia to promote stronger links between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific region.
Governor Margaret Beazley warmly welcomed Tô Lâm and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to New South Wales and praised the valuable contributions of Australians of Vietnamese origin. She noted that many members of the Vietnamese-Australian community have achieved success across various fields and taken on important positions and roles in the state.
Beazley strongly supported the Vietnamese leader’s proposal to make science, technology and innovation new pillars of bilateral cooperation. She also emphasized the importance of developing high-quality human resources, strengthening agricultural cooperation and expanding collaboration in other areas where New South Wales and Vietnam possess complementary strengths.
New South Wales, Australia’s oldest state, played a central role in the formation of the Australian Federation and remains a major driver of the country’s socio-economic development. Its capital, Sydney, is one of Australia’s leading global cities.
Vietnam is an important export market for New South Wales, particularly for goods and education services. Education and training constitute a significant area of cooperation, with the state attracting a large number of Vietnamese students to leading institutions, including the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
New South Wales and Ho Chi Minh City established official friendship and cooperation ties in 2019, providing an important foundation for expanding subnational cooperation between Vietnam and Australia.
The latest discussions underscored the growing depth of Vietnam-Australia relations and highlighted significant opportunities for further cooperation in innovation, technology, agriculture, education, trade and investment.
