Vietnam and Australia Hold 9th Diplomacy-Defence Dialogue in Hanoi

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Deputy Foreign Minister Đỗ Hùng Việt and Australian Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan co-chaired the 9th Vietnam-Australia Diplomacy-Defence Dialogue in Hanoi on Monday. The annual event, initiated in 2012, highlighted the growing strength and comprehensiveness of the Vietnam-Australia relationship, underscored by the recent upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s official visit to Australia in March 2024.

Both sides emphasized the high level of political trust between the two countries, which serves as a crucial foundation for enhancing cooperation across various fields. Acknowledging the significant geopolitical challenges facing the region, they agreed to deepen strategic cooperation within the new relationship framework to address these challenges effectively. Increased exchanges and consultations were also prioritized to implement high-level agreements and explore new areas of collaboration that align with the interests and potentials of both nations.

The dialogue recognized the successful defense cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, highlighted by ongoing dialogues, consultations, training programs, joint exercises, and collaboration in UN peacekeeping efforts. Both countries committed to further strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties, aiming to become each other’s top 10 trading partners and to double two-way investment capital as outlined in the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES).

Australia expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation with Vietnam in digital transformation, the digital economy, and high-tech industries. It also expressed a desire to increase investment in wind power, diversify supply chains, and support the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, consistent with Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Vietnam highly valued Australia’s support through practical programs and projects aimed at enhancing capacity and achieving socio-economic targets. Australia’s provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in areas such as gender equality, climate change response, environmental protection, and energy transition was particularly appreciated.

Education was reaffirmed as a key pillar of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides agreed to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and locality-to-locality cooperation, while promoting cultural exchange to deepen mutual understanding. Vietnam welcomed Australia’s efforts to share information on new policies aimed at attracting international students and requested continued favorable conditions for Vietnamese students studying in Australia.

The dialogue also covered regional and international security issues, with both sides sharing perspectives on strategic challenges in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. They discussed the impact of strategic competition between major powers, conflicts, socio-political crises, economic and technological decoupling, and other global risks on the security and development of both countries.

Vietnam and Australia committed to further cooperation at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. Australia reaffirmed its support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional rules-based order and advocated for peaceful resolution of disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea) in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Australia also expressed a strong interest in continuing its cooperation with the Mekong Sub-region through the Mekong-Australia Partnership program, focusing on climate change, energy transition, food and water security, and human resources training, all aimed at building a self-reliant, sustainable, and inclusive Mekong Sub-region.

The two sides agreed to hold the 10th edition of the Diplomacy-Defence Dialogue in Australia at a mutually convenient time.