Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop on May 27 before attending a ceremony to inaugurate the Cao Lãnh Bridge in the southern province of Đồng Tháp.– VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Văn Trí

ĐỒNG THÁP – The Australian Government considers Việt Nam one of its key partners in the Asia-Pacific region, Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop has said.

Bishop made the remark at her meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng on May 27 before attending a ceremony to inaugurate the Cao Lãnh Bridge in the southern province of Đồng Tháp.

She spoke highly of Việt Nam’s achievements in promoting socio-economic development, expanding foreign relations and boosting international integration.

She emphasised the importance of the upgrading of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, affirming that Australia will closely work with Việt Nam to realise the contents agreed in the “Joint Statement on the Establishment of the Việt Nam-Australia Strategic Partnership” and fulfill objectives set in the Việt Nam-Australia Plan of Action 2016-19.

Deputy PM Dũng suggested the Foreign Ministries of the two nations hasten relevant ministries and agencies to implement co-operation plans to develop the newly established Strategic Partnership strongly and effectively.

He applauded the ministries’ plan to organise the first ministerial-level meeting on the occasion, which will kick off a series of newly-formed co-operation mechanisms and frameworks between the two countries.

He also valued Australia continuing to give official development assistance (ODA) priority to Việt Nam in the 2018-19 fiscal year, confirming that Australia’s ODA will be used effectively and practically for the country’s socio-economic development.

He proposed Australia continue assisting Việt Nam in the fields of infrastructure, agricultural and rural development, climate change adaptation, and human resources development.

Regarding bilateral collaboration at regional and international forums, the two sides appreciated the fine coordination between Việt Nam and Australia at the forums, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the United Nations.

Minister Bishop affirmed that Australia continues its current positive and consistent stance on the East Sea issue and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, addressing disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

She reiterated her country’s support for Việt Nam in its bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-21, saying that Australia is willing to share its experience in assuming this position for the 2013-14 tenure.

Deputy PM Dũng informed his guest that Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc sent an invitation to his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull to visit Việt Nam and attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in September this year. He added that Việt Nam attaches importance to this meeting and wishes to welcome the Australian PM at the event. — VNS