From Left: Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung (2nd) and Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy (3rd) at their meeting in Australia. (Photo: VNA) The meeting took place within the framework of theworking trip to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to attend the ASEAN -Australia Special Summit and pay an official visit to the country.
According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment(MPI), the two ministers shared the hope to foster cooperation in economy,investment and trade through specific projects that are consistent with the advantagesand development orientations of both nations, making the collaboration on parwith the freshly-established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Dung briefed the host on the remarkable socio-economicachievements Vietnam has recorded after the past nearly 40 years of reform anddevelopment. The country is implementing three strategic breakthroughsin institution, infrastructure and human resources, along with spurringdevelopment based on science-technology and innovation.
However, Vietnam remains an evolving economy withlimited resources, he said, noting that the country needs support frominternational partners, especially the Australian government, to fulfill itsdevelopment targets by 2045, and its net-zero commitment by 2050.
The minister suggested the two sides continue theirclose coordination to implement specific projects in the key areas set out byVietnam’s National Innovation Centre (NIC), especially through the Australiangovernment’s non-refundable aid worth 90 million AUD (59.3 million USD) toVietnam, and development support programmes in climate change response andsustainable development.
Mentioning obstacles to Australia’s ODA andinvestment projects in Vietnam, Dung affirmed that they will soon be removed,and pledged to facilitate the implementation of Australian-funded projects, aswell as the effective, sustainable operations of Australian investors in theSoutheast Asian nation.
For his part, Conroy emphasised that the Australiangovernment always views Vietnam as an important partner, and wishes to boostinvestment cooperation and help the country in the areas that match its development orientations.
The officials consented to maintain the dialoguemechanism between the two countries, and work together to arrange the Vietnamvisit by Conroy in the time ahead, during which they expect to compare notes onspecific cooperation areas, thus strengthening bilateraleconomic-investment-trade ties.
On this occasion, Dung met with representatives fromthe Vietnam Australia Innovation Network (NIC AU), which was asked to expand anddiversify its operation, and particularly beef up its coordination with the NICand other networks worldwide.
The NIC AU said it will work harder to bringtogether Vietnamese experts in Australia, and connect them with theirinternational peers.
On this occasion, Dung had working sessions withsome Australian partners who said they hope to roll out specific projects inVietnam in the time ahead.
Dung suggested the partners consider cooperationprojects in green hydrogen, focusing on assisting Vietnam in improving its technologicalcapacity and develop human resources for the sector.
He also called on them to help Vietnamese businessesjoin the Australian and regional hydrogen markets./.
VNA
