 Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn is to pay a State visit to Vietnam. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, Vietnam and Australia have achieved remarkable milestones, most notably the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March last year.
Governor-General Mostyn’s visit reflects Australia’s consistent policy of attaching great importance to strengthening relations with Southeast Asia, particularly with Vietnam. For Vietnam, the visit underscores its steadfast policy of prioritizing ties with Pacific nations, especially Australia, a country with significant influence in the region.
A comprehensive bilateral partnership
In October 2024, both sides signed an Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 2024-2027 period. To date, 96% of the program’s initiatives have been carried out.
The two sides held their first-ever Ministerial Security Dialogue and have continued to strengthen cooperation in UN peacekeeping.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, former Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said: “The Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a model in today’s international relations. The prospects for bilateral ties provide a foundation to promote peace in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions and create opportunities for development in both countries, contributing to shaping a new regional order.”
Mr. Layton Pike of the Australia–Vietnam Policy Institute said Australia–Vietnam relations are becoming stronger as the two countries share many commonalities, particularly a joint commitment to building a stable, peaceful, resilient, and prosperous world, especially in Southeast Asia, the region of Australia’s first priority.
In trade and economic cooperation, Vietnam and Australia are members of major free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), which provide tangible benefits, including preferential tariffs. With significant room for growth, the two sides aim to raise bilateral trade to 20 billion USD in the near future.
Another highlight of the bilateral relationship is cultural and people-to-people connectivity. Australia is home to a large Vietnamese community of about 350,000 people, and Vietnamese ranks among the country’s top four languages, after English, Chinese, and Arabic, which forms a strong foundation for bilateral friendship. The two sides are committed to enhancing people-to-people exchanges. Vietnam is facilitating opportunities for more students to study in Australia, while the New Colombo Plan enables young Australians to study and experience life in Vietnam.
Reinforcing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Against this backdrop, Governor-General Sam Mostyn’s State visit holds significant importance, reaffirming the determination of both countries to deepen friendship and cooperation across all fields, especially political collaboration, more than 18 months after establishing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During the visit, the Governor-General will hold talks with President Luong Cuong, meet with senior leaders of the Party and State, attend the Vietnam–Australia Forum, inaugurate the Australia–Vietnam Policy Institute, and visit Ho Chi Minh City and several cultural and historical sites.
With mutual understanding and trust, Vietnam and Australia are well-positioned to build an even closer partnership. Governor-General Mostyn’s visit will contribute to enhancing bilateral cooperation and realizing both sides’ commitment to advancing their relationship into a new phase.