On the afternoon of September 15, 2026, at Viet Nam House, Ambassador of Viet Nam to Australia Pham Hung Tam received a number of opposition and independent parliamentarians from the Australian Parliament to exchange views on measures to further promote bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments, in the coming period.

Ambassador Pham Hung Tam emphasized that the Viet Nam–Australia Strategic Partnership is developing strongly and substantively. Australia is among Viet Nam’s leading economic, trade, investment and ODA partners. People-to-people exchanges have continued to flourish, with more than 500,000 Australian visitors travelling to Viet Nam in 2025.

The State Visit to Australia by General Secretary and President To Lam in August 2026 was a historic occasion, marking the first time that the two countries adopted three joint statements during a single high-level visit.

Ambassador Pham Hung Tam recalled that the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs had paid a courtesy call on General Secretary and President To Lam in Canberra during his recent visit, affirming their support for the friendship and cooperation between Australia and Viet Nam.

The Ambassador emphasized that bipartisan support for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries is of great importance. He proposed that both sides continue to promote the implementation of high-level agreements and understandings in the fields of economy, trade, investment, science and technology, education and training, security and defence. He also called on the Australian side to pay attention to and support Viet Nam’s 500-day-and-night campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.

Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed his support for cooperation between the two countries and their parliaments. He expressed interest in further promoting bilateral trade, investment and tourism, as well as in the possibility of Australia coordinating with and supporting Viet Nam’s 500-day-and-night campaign to search for and recover the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.

Senator Jessica Collins, a Liberal Party of Australia Senator for New South Wales and Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, expressed her interest in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and spoke highly of the role played by the Vietnamese-Australian community in Australia.

Senator Jessica Collins also exchanged views with Ambassador Pham Hung Tam on regional and international issues of mutual interest. She emphasized the importance of multilateralism and international law, while underscoring the need to strengthen cooperation among middle powers in the region.