Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomes Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Photo: An Dang/VNA

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Son and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong co-chaired the 7th Vietnam-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM-7) in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Deputy PM Son applauded Australia's commitment and increase in official development assistance (ODA) budget, most recently a package of 50 million AUD for practical initiatives and projects carried out in the Mekong Sub-region.

Foreign Minister Wong proposed that the two sides expand cooperation in climate change, green growth, energy transition, digital transformation and innovation. Australia will continue to support Vietnam in research and development of new technologies, green technologies, infrastructure development for energy transition and digital infrastructure, capacity building and human resource development, she added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son holds talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Photo: An Dang/VNA

Discussing regional and global issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, the two sides affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and respecting international law.

They exchanged diplomatic notes on establishing a foreign policy consultation mechanism between the two Foreign Ministries.