Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed he will make concerted efforts to elevate relations between Vietnam and Australia to a new height during a reception for Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick in Hanoi on October 24.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Australian guest

He spoke highly of the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, which saw positive contributions of Ambassador Craig Chittick.

PM Phuc said he expects the meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang and hoped that the talks would help elevate the relations between the two countries to a new height.

Both sides need to speed up trade and economic cooperation as the bilateral trade revenue is currently standing at 5 billion USD, which is below their potential, he underlined.

Lauding Vietnam for successfully organising the APEC 2017 Finance Ministers’ Meeting, Chittick said that the Australian Prime Minister will attend the APEC high level week in Da Nang and meet with Prime Minister Phuc to discuss measures to enhance the bilateral relations.

Australia is all set for fostering bilateral cooperation in economy and promoting a free and open environment, he said, adding that Australia’s 15 most successful enterprises will attend APEC CEO Summit in Da Nang.

He also pledged to work to speed up trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. -VNA