Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (Photo: VNA)

In a joint statement released when Turnbull attended APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang on Saturday, both PMs agreed on the exchange of high-level delegations and people-to-people diplomacy. The two leaders vowed to fully implement the Vietnam-Australia Plan of Action 2016-2019 and deepen their cooperation in defence, trade, investment, education, and labor. Both sides pledged to expand trade and direct investment for integration into regional economies. They agreed to continue coordination at global and regional forums including the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). PM Phuc said Vietnam will work closely with other ASEAN members and Australia to prepare for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney in March, 2018.