Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had ameeting in Hanoi on July 24 with Speaker of the House of Representatives ofAustralia Tony Smith, who said his country will keep assisting Vietnam in thelatter’s development process.

PM Phuc highly valued the Australian parliamentleader’s visit to Vietnam, which he said will help enhance the countries’strategic partnership, including parliamentary relations.

Speaker Smith said his visit this time aims tostrengthen ties between the two parliaments, Governments and peoples.

Talking about the recent inauguration of CaoLanh Bridge in Dong Thap province, he said the Australian-funded facility willnot only help improve local people’s life and socio-economic development but isalso an important symbol of bilateral ties.

The Australian parliament always wants to stepup cooperation with the National Assembly and Government of Vietnam, he said,adding that after this trip, his delegation will convey their good impressionof the Southeast Asian nation to the Australian parliament so as to bolsterbilateral connections in all aspects.

PM Phuc said amid the thriving strategicpartnership, Vietnam is exerting efforts to realise the two countries’ jointstatement signed last March. While bilateral trade has been on the rise, thetwo sides have coordinated closely at regional and international forums for thesake of peace and development.

[Infographics: Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership]

He wanted the two sides to continue reinforcingsubstantive cooperation, especially in pillar and potential areas such aseconomy-trade-investment, security-defence, education-training,science-technology, hi-tech agriculture, and development assistance.

Vietnam is resolved to ratify the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year andwill work closely with Australia to implement this trade pact, he noted.

The PM affirmed that the Vietnamese NationalAssembly and Government appreciate and want Australia to continue supportingASEAN and Vietnam’s viewpoint on the East Sea issue, and promoting the seriousand full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea and efforts to achieve a Code of Conduct in the waters.

Sharing his guest’s view on the significance ofCao Lanh Bridge in the two countries’ cooperation, the host leader said hehopes that Australia will keep supporting Vietnam in such fields asinfrastructure, agriculture and rural development, poverty reduction and climatechange response.

He appreciated Australia’s continuation ofofficial development assistance for Vietnam, asking both sides to coordinatemore closely to successful organise activities marking 45 years of theirdiplomatic ties and 20 years of defence relations, thereby contributing to thepolitical trust and mutual understanding between leaders and peoples of the twonations.

At the meeting, the Speaker of the Australianlower house expressed his support for PM Phuc’s proposals on intensifyingbilateral relations. 

He said there have been thousands of Vietnamesestudents in Australia while more and more Australian students have come toVietnam to take part in community activities and explore the country. They serveas an effective bridge helping to deepen mutual understanding between the twopeoples. 

Tony Smith affirmed that Australia will continueassisting the development process of Vietnam. It also respects the freedom ofnavigation, which is a consistent policy the country has advocated in not onlyAustralia or Vietnam but also anywhere else in the world.

The CPTPP is also an important issue forAustralia, he said, noting that his country will actively coordinate withVietnam in this matter so as to help bring common benefits to members of the agreement.-VNA