Day: March 9, 2024

Canberra: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with leaders and representatives of the Vietnamese Australian Scholars and Experts Association (VASEA) in Canberra on March 9 morning (local time) as part of his official visit to Australia.

VASEA was formed in 2023 by gathering Vietnamese intellectual clubs across Australia. These clubs were founded in 2018, shortly after the two nations upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership.

The association aims to leverage the knowledge and experience of its members and the network of connections with Australian scientists and experts to contribute to Vietnam’s development, particularly in such emerging fields as digital transformation, green transition, innovation, support for small- and medium-sized enterprises, and workforce training, stated VASEA Co-founder and President Professor Nghiem Duc Long from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

VASEA and its members can act as bridges, promoting Australian partners to provide more and better scholarships
for Vietnamese students.

At the working session, PM Chinh stressed that the framework of the freshly established Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership offers favourable conditions for the nations’ friendship associations to step up cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and contributions to the growth of the bilateral relations.

He affirmed that the Party and the State consider overseas Vietnamese an integral part of the Vietnamese community, with a desire for Vietnamese intellectuals and experts abroad to actively apply the expertise and technology acquired internationally to the specific conditions in Vietnam, promoting science, technology, and innovation and making practical contributions to the country’s development through specific programmes and projects.

The Government leader recommended VASEA to maximise the role of Vietnamese scholars and experts in Australia, further connect with Australian research institutions, training facilities and businesses, and cooperate with Vietnamese m
inistries and sectors to boost cooperation in the areas of science-technology, education-training, economy-trade- investment, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, deep processing of minerals, green transport, and carbon credits. Vietnam also needs support for farmers, agricultural economic development, and climate change response, especially in the Mekong Delta region, he noted.

The PM took this occasion to assign the Ministry of Education and Training to work directly with VASEA to promote bilateral engagements in human resource training. He hoped Australia will increase scholarships for Vietnam in the fields of digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, and sharing economy.

PM Chinh tasked the Ministry of Science and Technology with studying the organisation of sci-tech awards honouring overseas Vietnamese, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with developing a project on holding a forum for overseas Vietnamese scholars and experts in Vietnam.

The working session was the PM’s final ac
tivity in Australia. Following this event, the leader, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation will depart Canberra for Auckland for an official visit to New Zealand from March 10 to 11./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Auckland: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam landed at Auckland Airport on March 9 evening (local time), starting an official visit to New Zealand from March 10-11 at the invitation of his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon.

New Zealand officials welcoming the delegation at the airport included Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Rod Harris, and Ambassador Designate to Vietnam Caroline Beresford.

The delegation was also welcomed by Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung, staff members of the Vietnamese Embassy, and representatives of Vietnamese people in the country.

Over nearly 50 years of diplomatic ties, the two countries’ relations have been developing unceasingly and were upgraded to a strategic partnership in July 2020.

Vietnam is currently the 14th largest trading partner of New Zealand with bilateral trade reaching 1.3 billion USD in 202
3. As of November 2023, New Zealand had 52 investment projects worth 208.35 million USD in Vietnam, ranking 39th among 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, statistics showed.

There are about 11,000 Vietnamese people in the South Pacific nation, mainly in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington.

During the visit, PM Chinh is scheduled to hold talks and meetings with senior leaders of New Zealand, attend meetings with heads of associations and leading businesses of the country, engage in working sessions with local scientific, technological, and educational institutions, and meet with the Vietnamese community here.

The two sides will discuss measures to further enhance bilateral cooperation, including such focal and traditional areas as trade, investment, labour, education – training, and agriculture./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang on March 9 voiced Vietnam’s deep concern over the recent tension in the East Sea while responding to the media’s question about the China – Philippines tension around Bai Co May (Second Thomas Shoal).

Vietnam is deeply concerned about the recent tension in the East Sea that may affect peace, security, and stability in the waters, she stated.

Any activity in the East Sea must adhere to international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); respect countries’ sovereignty, sovereign right, and jurisdiction established in line with the UNCLOS; not complicate the situation or escalate tensions; guarantee the freedom of navigation and overflight; and not use or threaten to use force, Hang noted.

‘We call on the parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), resolve disputes by peaceful means, and together contribute to th
e maintenance of peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea,’ the Spokeswoman added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam has risen to become a regional trade and innovation hub, and there is a lot New Zealand can learn from Vietnam’s experience and expertise, CEO of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Suzannah Jessep has assessed in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s correspondents in Oceania.

Talking to the VNA reporters on the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to New Zealand on March 10 and 11, Jessep highlighted the significance of the trip as it provides an opportunity for both countries to further deepen their relationship at the highest levels and to exchange perspectives on a whole range of issues important to them. ‘Arriving with such a senior and large delegation signals the investment Vietnam is making in the relationship, and of the importance it places on this engagement,’ she said.

According to the CEO, next year, Vietnam and New Zealand will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the last five decades, the two sides have seen significant growth
over the decades in people-to-people connections as well as growth in business, government, arts, defence and security, sports, science and other areas.

The expert held that: ‘There is a vibrancy to the relationship today that deserves celebration – but it also a platform from which we should look to catapult future growth.’

Recalling the upgrade of the bilateral relationship to a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2020, she said this was an acknowledgement of the closer ties the two countries have forged together and an expression of intent that they want to continue to look for ways to work together and advance mutual interests. New Zealand has teamed up with Vietnam to grow its agriculture sector, build resilience to climate change and disasters, and support the development of a highly-skilled and educated workforce. ‘We also have many friends in common. Our two countries have an opportunity to collaborate with others as we respond to climate change and other challenges that are impervious to geographic borders.
‘

Jessep said New Zealand and Vietnam are advocates for a peaceful region governed by the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and freedom of navigation. She recommended the two nations, alongside other Southeast Asian countries and regional powers, to continue to work together to protect and promote their interconnected, prosperous and stable region.

Concerning the prospects of the Vietnam – New Zealand relationship in the future, she assessed that there is great potential to grow cooperation across almost every sector. ‘At the Asia New Zealand Foundation, we work to help build connections between talented New Zealanders and their counterparts in Asia. This includes incredible young entrepreneurs who are designing solutions to tomorrow’s challenges – whether it be future food needs, climate adaptation, technology, green energy and so on. But we also invest in growing connections between our communities, as the basis for developing stronger, deeper country relations. Vietnamese students who study in New Zea
land are thriving, and bring with them skills and cultural acumen that we need.’

According to the expert, in April, the foundation plans to take a group of young New Zealand leaders to Vietnam to learn about the country, its economy, history, and to build connections with young Vietnamese leaders. In May, it will lead a delegation of emerging art curators to Vietnam to learn about Vietnam’s burgeoning arts scene and make connections with arts practitioners. The foundation will also welcome a delegation of tourism and agribusiness entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia, including from Vietnam, to learn about New Zealand’s agricultural and tourism sectors and share ideas with their local counterparts.

‘Connections such as these help us to grow trade connections, but they also help us to see the relationship beyond a trade lens and I believe this is imperative to building stronger, lasting ties,’ the CEO concluded./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Sydney: The establishment of the Vietnam – Australia comprehensive strategic partnership during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Australia, which concluded on March 9, has attracted attention from Australian experts and scholars.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondents in Australia, Prof. Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy, the University of New South Wales, said the upgrade of the bilateral ties to the comprehensive strategic partnership reflects the mutual respect for each other’s political regimes. Economic benefits have brought the two countries closer together for the sake of a broader strategic interest.

The new partnership will generate opportunities for more intensive discussions about various issues between Vietnam and Australia, he said, noting that the majority of Australian people support the reinforcement of the ties with Vietnam, especially in education.

The scholar held that Australia will prioritise cooperation with
Vietnam and promote dialogue. The two sides can jointly put forth and share ideas at different dialogue levels. All of these will serve the two countries’ shared future amid such challenges as climate change, economic uncertainties, and superpowers’ competition facing the world and the region.

Both sides will jointly gain benefits if they understand those challenges and find out the best ways for promoting the most effective cooperation via bilateral and multilateral mechanisms in which Vietnam engages and has a strong role to play, Thayer added.

Greg Earl, former member of the Australia – ASEAN Council and former Southeast Asia correspondent at the Australian Financial Review, perceived that the elevation of the bilateral relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership will create a prerequisite for Vietnam and Australia to enhance diplomatic ties more strongly and hold dialogues on regional issues.

In fact, he noted, the two countries have found out ways to build closer and closer relations, which a
re based on complementary economic policies and the large Vietnamese community that has helped deepen Australia’s understanding of the Southeast Asian nation.

The ties with Vietnam form one of the fastest growing foreign relationships of Australia over the recent past. Despite different political regimes, the two countries share many similarities in their foreign policies towards the region.

In addition, Vietnam is investing in resources of Australia, which in turn is importing more products from Vietnam. This has helped Australian businesses become more familiar with Vietnam, according to Earl.

Voicing his delight at the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, Hal Hill, Emeritus Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, described this as a positive sign for the future of both countries. Though they are not geographically close to each other, they can seize this opportunity to develop durable relations and mutual understanding in all aspects.

He said Vietnam has enjoyed sound relations with most countries and secured an important stature in the international arena, setting an example for other countries to follow.

Besides, Vietnam is considered as an economic ‘star’ in Southeast Asia and the most successful country in this region in terms of entering the global production network – the fastest growing part of international trade. Many multinationals have come to Vietnam and carried out production activities here.

Given this, Hill held that Vietnam is a great opportunity for Australia.

The professor said in terms of political and social aspects, Vietnam is a dynamic and active country which used to be one of the poorest in the world in the 1980s but thanks to Doi moi (Renewal), it has established itself as a diverse economy with large rice exports and successful agriculture and fisheries.

With PM Chinh’s visit and such optimistic signs, a new era has opened for closer relations between Vietnam and Australia, he remarked./.

Source: Vietnam New
s Agency