Prime Minister Le Minh Hung reaffirmed that Vietnam regards Australia as a trusted friend and a Comprehensive Strategic Partner with growing influence in the region and many shared strategic interests.

To further strengthen political trust between the two countries, the prime minister proposed thorough preparations for upcoming high-level exchanges and said Vietnam looks forward to welcoming the Australian prime minister back for an official visit and participation in the APEC 2027 Leaders' Meeting.

The prime minister called for breakthrough measures to achieve the bilateral trade target of US$20 billion and double two-way investment.

He also urged Australia to continue expanding market access for Vietnamese goods, particularly agricultural and seafood products, maintain stable fuel supplies, and minimize trade barriers and anti-dumping investigations.

The PM further proposed that Australia continue supporting training and capacity-building programs for Vietnamese civil servants, particularly senior leaders and managers.

He also called for stronger practical cooperation in defense and security, science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Gillian Bird reaffirmed Australia's commitment to supporting Vietnam's reform efforts and development goals.

She said Australia hopes to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, education and training, and support for science and technology development.

The ambassador also pledged to encourage greater Australian investment in Vietnam under Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 while continuing support for training and capacity-building programs for Vietnamese officials.

On the occasion, Ambassador Bird announced that Australia would provide nearly A$100 million in total development assistance to Vietnam during the 2026-2027 fiscal year, focusing on science and technology, skills development, human resource training and climate change response.

Vietnam seeks deeper cooperation with Canada

During a separate meeting with Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Jim Nickel, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said Vietnam considers Canada an important partner and hopes to strengthen the Comprehensive Partnership, making it deeper, more substantive and more effective, with the aim of elevating bilateral relations in the future.

The PM said the two countries have considerable potential for cooperation, particularly in trade, science and technology, innovation, green transition and energy.

He proposed that Canada continue opening its market to Vietnamese products, especially agricultural, forestry and seafood exports.

The PM also called for greater cooperation in training highly skilled workers in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology and semiconductors, while encouraging collaboration between educational institutions in both countries.

He welcomed leading Canadian universities to establish branch campuses in Vietnam.

Ambassador Jim Nickel affirmed that Canada regards Vietnam as an important partner with a key role in ASEAN and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Echoing the prime minister's priorities, the ambassador highlighted opportunities for cooperation in energy, food security, food safety, aerospace, maritime transport, cybersecurity, combating transnational crime and United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Vietnam and South Korea strengthen strategic cooperation

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung also received South Korean Ambassador Choi Young Sam on the occasion of the ambassador's farewell visit at the end of his diplomatic tenure.

The PM noted that the two countries had successfully organized numerous high-level exchanges, including Communist Party General Secretary To Lam's visit to South Korea in August 2025 and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Vietnam in April 2026.

The PM called for efforts to achieve the bilateral trade target of US$100 billion in 2026 and US$150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner.

He also encouraged South Korean companies to continue expanding investment in Vietnam, particularly in high-tech electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, renewable energy, urban rail systems and smart cities.

The Vietnamese government, he said, will continue creating favorable conditions for foreign businesses, including South Korean companies, to invest in Vietnam with long-term confidence.

Ambassador Choi Young Sam reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, especially in sectors where South Korea has expertise and Vietnam has growing demand, including science and technology, semiconductors, renewable energy, LNG-fired power, artificial intelligence and infrastructure.

He added that South Korea remains a reliable partner committed to supporting Vietnam's development goals through 2030 and 2045.

Tran Thuong