Association looks to promote friendship between Vietnam, Australia in new context
The Vietnam–Australia Friendship Association elected a 40-member Executive Board for the 2025-2030 term, with Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Science and Training Council at the National Economics University, named President.
Phan Anh Son, President of the VUFO, speaks at the congress (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam–Australia Friendship Association (VAFA) will continue promoting tourism linkages, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people interactions🥂 as well as strengthen cooperation between localities and friendship organisations of both countries to foster mutual understanding.
This was reached by members of the association at its third National Congress for the 2025-2030 held in Hanoi on July 1.
In partnership with the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia and other stakeholders, the association will continue its outreach to raise awareness and encourage a sense of responsibility among Vietnamese students and workers in Australia.
It will also encourage the Vietnamese community in Australia to comply with local laws, maintain strong connections with the homeland, contribute to bilateral friendship, and support Australian businesses in exploring opportunities in Vietnam.
The congress elected the association’s Executive Board for the new term, comprising 40 members, with Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Science and Training Council at the National Economics University, named President.
Addressing the event, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the two countries through strategic and economic partnerships, and strong people-to-people connections.
She said these connections will continue to play a vital role in strengthening the Australia–Vietnam partnership and expressed Australia’s hope to further collaborate with Vietnam, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations (VUFO), and the VAFA to deepen ties between the two nations and their people.
Phan Anh Son, President of the VUFO, noted that the congress takes place at a pivotal time, as Vietnam undergoes significant transformation and enters a new era of development.
In this context, diplomatic work, particularly people-to-people diplomacy, bears even greater significance and broader responsibilities, he said.
He expressed his hope that the association will capitalise on its strengths and further promote people-to-people diplomacy to enhance cooperation between both countries' localities, businesses, and organisations.
During its 2016–2025 term, under the guidance of the VUFO and with strong support from central and local agencies, mass organisations, social groups, and dedicated individuals, the VAFA played a key role in promoting people-to-people diplomacy.
It successfully integrated its activities with those of the VUFO, mobilised support and coordination from relevant ministries and local authorities, and attracted participation from domestic and international organi▨sations and individuals./.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
Vietnam and Australia currently enjoy a strong and growing trade and economic relationship, with Australia now among Vietnam’s top 10 trading partners.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, the bilateral relationship has continuously developed in a solid, substantive, and effective manner across various fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, development cooperation, education and training, and people-to-people exchange.
On the East Sea issue, Vietnam’s consistent stance is to persistently strive to solve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means based on international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, and international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and support the prompt conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang suggested continued promotion of joint work in defence industry, training, and United Nations peacekeeping operations, while exploring new fields like war legacy resolution, maritime security, military medicine, military sports and culture, and service arms cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc has called on all countries to jointly take action to revitalise multilateralism, promote active multilateralism, and work together to restore disruptions in international cooperation on development, trade, and investment.
The diplomat concluded that with the solid foundation and achievements of the past 50 years, and the strong political will of the two governments and the people, Vietnam–Portugal relations are set to expand and deepen, rising to a new height that reflects the true potential, shared values, and mutual aspirations of the two nations
The project to renovate, upgrade, and expand the monument site was a gift from the Vietnamese task force to its Lao counterpart, with a total value of 54 billion VND (2.06 million USD). The Lao side served as project investor, while the construction was undertaken by Company 206 of Military Zone 5 under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence.
Xuan suggested Lombardy establish partnerships with several Vietnamese localities and economic centres, and expressed her confidence that the new direct flight between Hanoi and Milan - the capital of Lombardy - will help strengthen cooperation between the two regions, cultures, and peoples.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man urged the localities in Can Tho to leverage their respective strengths and support one another in building a more diverse, flexible, and sustainable economic structure to drive socio-economic development and improve the material and spiritual well-being of locals.
Vietnam wishes to further promote and enhance cooperation with Egypt in a more substantive and effective manner, serving the interests of the two countries' people, contributing to regional stability and development, and matching the strong bilateral political relationship.
The restructuring of the organisational apparatus and administrative units is a major policy of strategic significance, the Party chief stressed, saying that it demonstrates the Party and State’s strong political commitment to building a streamlined, efficient, and people-oriented administration.
Culture is a big and complex issue, forming a foundational component alongside Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought in shaping Vietnam’s socialist path, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The celebration of the 110th birth anniversary of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan's meetings with Italian leaders and Pope Leo XIV, and the issuance of Level-2 electronic identification (e-ID) accounts for foreign residents are among news highlights on July 1.
Throughout the past five decades, Vietnam has attached importance to its comprehensive and cooperative partnership with the European Union and its member states, including Portugal. In turn, Portugal considers Vietnam a key market in Southeast Asia.
Speaking at the event, Party General Secretary To Lam highlighted late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh’s contributions to the national development by launching reform policies.
The two sides committed to expanding cultural exchanges, tourism promotion, science and technology collaboration, education and training, and people-to-people diplomacy. They also voiced support for stronger Vietnam–EU ties within EVFTA and EU Indo-Pacific initiatives.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed Vietnam’s participation in the FfD4 and reaffirmed Spain’s strong commitment to fostering its partnership with Vietnam, identifying the Southeast Asian country as one of its priority partners in the region.
