Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with the Governor General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove, in Sydney on March 17 during his official visit to the country. 

The Vietnamese PM used the occasion to emphasise Vietnam’s consistent policy of intensifying the comprehensive partnership with Australia. He also welcomed Australia’s policy of enhancing ties with Indo-Pacific countries, including Vietnam. 

The two leaders hailed the development of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries across many fields, particularly since the establishment of a formal bilateral comprehensive partnership in 2009. 

The Australian Governor General said he believes the visit by PM Dung, which came at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, will help create a new momentum in the two countries’ developing partnership. 

He added that the strong growth of bilateral ties, especially in the economic-commercial fields, and the similarities in viewpoint regarding regional security-political issues demonstrate that the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive partnership has deepened and grown increasingly stable, sustainable and mutually trusting. 

Cosgrove said that as a veteran of the Vietnam War who has made two subsequent trips to Vietnam, he is deeply impressed by the achievements and positive changes in the Southeast Asian country, as well as the hospitality of the Vietnamese people. 

PM Dung conveyed an invitation to Vietnam from President Truong Tan Sang to Cosgrove, with the latter accepting with pleasure. 

The same day, the Vietnamese PM took part in a meeting with the Governor of New South Wales, David Hurley. 

The PM underlined New South Wales’ advantage in expanding ties with Vietnamese localities, as there is now a direct air service between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City. He suggested the state authorities facilitate business cooperation between the two countries and assist Vietnamese firms in seeking investment opportunities and selling commodities in the state, and across the rest of Australia. 

Governor Hurley said the visit by PM Dung marked the start of a new period for cooperation between New South Wales and Vietnam. He promised to facilitate connections between the business communities of the state and Vietnam for their mutual benefit.-VNA