Vietnam and Australia Forge Pragmatic and Forward-looking Partnership: Vietnam News Today (March 6)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn and heads of delegations to the Australia-ASEAN Special Summit. (Photo: VNA)

Welcome ceremony held for heads of delegations to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancee hosted an official welcome ceremony in Melbourne on March 5 afternoon (local time) for heads of delegations attending the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia dialogue relations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, Le Thi Bich Tran, joined the Sultan of Brunei, the Presidents of the Philippines and Indonesia and their spouses, the Prime Ministers of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste and their spouses, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN at the ceremony.

PM Albanese welcomed the heads of delegations with traditional rituals and performances showcasing Australia’s culture and art. He highly appreciated Australia’s relations with ASEAN countries and expressed hope that the summit would further enhance and strengthen the Australia – ASEAN relations with new momentum and content.

Australia has been a Comprehensive Strategic Partner to ASEAN and has had practical and effective cooperation with its members for the past 50 years. The ASEAN – Australia Special Summit, themed “A Partnership for the Future”, took place in Melbourne, Australia from March 5-6.

During the summit, PM Chinh participated in main sessions and engaged in several important activities. Chinh and the leaders of ASEAN countries and Australia discussed and proposed visions, directions, and specific measures to expand their cooperation in the future. Later that day, Chinh and his spouse attended a banquet hosted by the Australian PM and his fiancee to welcome the heads of delegations and their spouses.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (left) and Australian counterpart Penny Wong (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Australia build practical, future-oriented relations

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on March 5 as part of the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit commemorating the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. FM Son expressed gratitude to the Australian official for his collaboration in preparing for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Australia and expressed his belief that the summit would be a great success. He also expressed satisfaction with the recent progress in bilateral relations and cooperation between the two foreign ministries.

FM Son suggested close coordination between Vietnam and Australia in implementing support packages worth nearly 200 million AUD (130 million USD) for clean energy development and climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta region. These support packages were announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and FM Penny Wong during their visits to Vietnam.

In return, Minister Wong expressed her gratitude and highly valued the Vietnamese Government and FM Son for their support and participation in the Summit. She also appreciated the substantive activities that the two countries held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations last year. Wong took the opportunity to invite FM Son to visit Australia again and co-chair the 6th Vietnam-Australia foreign ministerial meeting.

FM Son also met with Simon Birmingham, in charge of foreign affairs of the Australian opposition in the Senate. He commended Australia’s efforts in maintaining economic and social stability and its measures to address global economic uncertainties. FM Son also praised Birmingham’s efforts in promoting Vietnam-Australia cooperation in his capacity overseeing foreign affairs of the opposition party, as well as his previous roles as Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Finance, and Minister for Trade and Investment during the period of the Coalition Government.

Birmingham affirmed that Australia attaches great importance to its relations with Vietnam and considers Vietnam one of its key partners in the Asia-Pacific region. He stated that Australia highly values recent achievements in bilateral relations, especially in political, economic, trade, investment, defense, security, and other potential areas. Birmingham reiterated his support for the Vietnam-Australia relationship, regardless of his position, and expressed his desire to visit Vietnam again soon.

In a meeting with FM Son, Nicholas Moore, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, confirmed that Australia highly values the potential for cooperation with Vietnam, especially in terms of economics, trade, and investment. Moore noted that Vietnam holds a significant position in the implementation of Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Overseas Vietnamese greet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Australia. (Photo: VNA)

Overseas Vietnamese in Australia optimistic about bilateral cooperation prospects

Overseas Vietnamese in Australia are optimistic about stronger cooperation between the two countries, especially after the ongoing official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The Vietnamese government leader is in Australia for the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit and an official visit to the country.

Tran Ba Phuc, Chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia and Vice Chairman of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese, expressed his delight as Vietnam’s position in the international arena has been raised and respected by the international community. He also emphasized the fruitful diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries, saying the two-way trade is expected to be fostered in the time ahead, particularly after the PM’s visit, as they have great potential for stronger cooperation.

Phuc also expressed his hope that the visit will be a success, helping to deepen the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership and that the bilateral diplomatic and economic relations will make greater strides. He affirmed that the Vietnamese community in Australia shares the wish to contribute to the development of the homeland.

Peter Hong, Chairman of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese who has lived in Australia for more than 40 years, said he and many Vietnamese nationals in Australia are looking forward to the PM’s visit. Vietnam’s elevated position and reputation in the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, have raised confidence among the Vietnamese community in Australia in the Party’s and the State’s leadership.

Nguyen Le Ha Chi, President of the Melbourne Overseas Vietnamese Students’ Association, also expressed her hope that the visit will open up new opportunities for Vietnam-Australia relations, including educational cooperation.

Vietnamese and Lao representatives at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between Vietnam Farmers’ Union and the LFNC Central Committee. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Farmers’ Association ready to exchange and share experiences with Laos

A delegation of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU), led by the organization’s Chairman Luong Quoc Doan, paid a courtesy visit to Politburo member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune in Vientiane on March 5.

During the meeting, Doan said that the delegation’s visit to Laos aimed to exchange information, share experiences in mass mobilization work, and establish cooperation mechanisms between the association and the Lao front. They also discussed the establishment of the Lao Farmers’ Association.

Sinlavong highly appreciated the role of the VNFU in the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture over the years. He said that the delegation’s visit offered opportunities for Laos to learn from Vietnam’s experiences in developing the VNFU.

The Vietnamese delegation also held talks with a delegation from the LFNC Central Committee led by its Vice President Khamlay Sipaseuth. During the talks, the two sides agreed to continue promoting communication work for farmers of the two countries to understand the strategic importance and meaning of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam. They also pledged to join in protecting and nurturing the good traditional relationship between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to further promote their cooperation and friendship and support each other in activities of the farmers’ union, as well as the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in general. At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral cooperation in the 2025 – 2030 period.

Aquatic exports surged by 23% in the first two months

Vietnamese seafood exports during the first two months of the year reached US$1.3 billion, a 23% increase compared to the same period last year, as many businesses received new export orders, according to industry insiders. Do Thi Thu Thuy, Sales Director of Nam Viet Group, pointed out that Tra fish (pangasius) exports rebounded in the reviewed period as major markets started placing large export orders.

Tran Anh Khoa, General Director of Anh Khoa Co., Ltd. in the southern province of Ca Mau, which specializes in exporting shrimp, stated that foreign importers such as China and the Middle East have high demand for the aquatic product.

Many Chinese buyers are selling directly to retail customers through e-commerce channels, leading to a need for large quantities of goods. They consider Vietnamese shrimp to be of higher quality than those from Ecuador and India and are therefore willing to accept higher prices. Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), emphasized that seafood exports have bounced back in the first two months.

In February alone, aquatic exports were estimated to be at US$564 million, down 8% compared to the same period last year, bringing the two-month turnover to over US$1.3 billion, up 23% year-on-year. Pangasius exports nearly doubled to US$365 million, with positive signs from small markets such as the UK, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Shrimp and tuna exports both increased by 37% year-on-year, while pangasius exports and other types of fish rose by 15% and 8%, respectively. Bright export prospects await in China, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia, particularly as China’s demand for seafood products is recovering well. Vietnamese shrimp also have an advantage over its competitors as Ecuador is being warned due to shrimp containing sulfites along with rising freight rates.

However, high inventories and oversupply sources may affect the consumption demand for major aquatic items such as shrimp and pangasius. Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU market are still facing difficulties due to the “yellow card” against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing imposed by the European Commission. In March and April, seafood businesses are set to engage in the International Seafood Fair programs in Boston, the US, and Spain. There will be a positive outlook for export businesses.