Australia and Vietnam upgrades ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership

The Australia - Vietnam relationship is underpinned by strategic trust, mutual respect and shared ambition. Last year, Australia and Vietnam celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations.

The landmark comprehensive strategic partnership will support expanded cooperation on climate,the environment and energy, and digital transformation and innovation, building on established collaboration across defence and security, economic engagement, and education.

The leaders acknowledged a range of new initiatives as part of the partnership.

A new Peacekeeping Partnership Arrangement announced by the leaders will solidify Australia’s support for Vietnam’s peacekeeping efforts, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. This agreement is an example of how Indo-Pacific partners can work together to promote global peace and security. The leaders also agreed to elevate the Australia-Vietnam Security Dialogue to a inisterial level to advance cooperation on law enforcement issues.

To grow trade and investment links between Australia and Vietnam, the prime ministers welcomed new cooperation in agriculture that will encourage trade in new commodities. They also lauded arrangements that will enable 1,000 Vietnamese workers to work in the agricultural sector to fill labour gaps in rural and regional Australia and a new agreement between agencies responsible for trade and investment promotion.

Education has long been a pillar of the Australia-Vietnam relationship, and a source of warm ties between their people. A renewed framework for cooperation between Australian and Vietnamese education institutions will strengthen the ability to work together on early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary education, to deliver the workforce required to seize the opportunities of the future.

The PMs also welcomed new agreements between maritime and science agencies to support Vietnam’s management of its maritime resources, including through adaption to climate change.

To formalise the growing partnership, leaders agreed to new ministerial dialogues on priority areas. An annual ministerial dialogue on energy and minerals will drive cooperation in those sectors, including critical mineral supply chains. The first Annual Trade Ministers’ Dialogue, held on March 5 between Ministers Farrell and Dien, provided a platform to build trade and investment between the two countries.

PM Anthony Albanese, said, "It is a pleasure to welcome PM Chinh to Australia following my visit to Vietnam last year. Australia and Vietnam share an ambitious agenda across climate change and sustainability, digital transformation and innovation, defence and security, economics and trade, and education. This new comprehensive strategic partnership reflects our cooperation, our strategic trust and shared ambition for our region. There is enormous potential to be realised through closer ties between Australia and Vietnam.”

Australia and Vietnam bulk up partnerships Australia’s ongoing assistance to Vietnam’s economic recovery and green development, as well as extended collaboration under the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Partnership, were discussed during the official visit last week to Vietnam of the Australian minister for both foreign affairs and women.

Australia and Vietnam set to deepen economic ties The governments of Australia and Vietnam released a strategy to unlock significant opportunities for businesses across the two countries and help guide two countries towards an inclusive and sustainable growth path.

Promote a thriving business and investment environment Bilateral links between Australia and Vietnam have developed significantly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973. Despite differences in the likes of legal systems and culture, both nations still share the ambition to promote bilateral trade and investment.