Australia, VN cooperation focuses on economic partnership

April 01, 2017 | 09:23

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CANBERRA – The Australia and Việt Nam governments on Friday held their High-Level Consultations on Development Co-operation to discuss results of their long-term development co-operation and the importance of its transformation into an economic partnership.

Deputy Minister Nguyễn Thế Phương (right) and First Assistant Secretary Philip Green sign a record of the transcript of the meeting.-Photo courtesy Australian Embassy in Hà Nội

The biennial High Level Consultations were led by First Assistant Secretary, South East Asia Mainland and Regional Division Philip Green, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), and Việt Nam Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Thế Phương.

Accordingly, the two countries gained key achievements for the 2015-17 development co-operation, including due completion of the Cao Lãnh Bridge late this year, encouraging progress in developing three new initiatives -- Aus4Reform, Aus4Transport and Aus4Water -- to develop a strong and competitive private sector in Việt Nam.

They also noted the effective commencement of the new Aus4Skills initiative in 2016, which will continue to deliver the prestigious Australia Awards Scholarships as well as a new range of flexible human resource development support packages and support for women’s economic empowerment, including preparation for the new Aus4Equality and Investing in Women initiatives.

“Việt Nam has been an important partner to Australia in the region for a long time, and our commitment to development cooperation with Viet Nam is ongoing,” Green said.

Given Viet Nam’s tremendous achievements in socio-economic development, it is now time to transform the relationship into an economic partnership, based on mutual benefit and shared challenges,” he added.

The economic partnership is expected to be built on the principles of commitment to pursuing shared economic interests as outlined in the Plan of Action 2016-2019, encouraging a dynamic private sector, fostering greater business and market access opportunities, empowering women in the economy and promoting environmentally sustainable growth.

VNA

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