Viet Nam, Australia step up cooperation

The announcement was made by Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations Huynh Minh Thien and Australian Consul-General in HCM City Graeme Swift, at a meeting to mark the 223 rd anniversary of Australian Day in HCM City on January 19.
On economic cooperation between the two countries, Thien said that among Australia ’s ASEAN partners, Viet Nam had recorded the highest economic growth over the last five years and that bilateral economic relations would be furthered as Viet Nam would continue to reform its economic policies.
Australia has also supported Viet Nam in many fields, with official development aid (ODA) rising annually and reaching 119.8 million AUD in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Swift said that he was very pleased over the level of Australia ’s financial involvement’s projects in Viet Nam , especially in infrastructure, construction in the Mekong Delta, which had helped to improve the living standards of the local people.
Around 188,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia have also contributed to the development of the relationship between both countries./.