Sydney (VNA) – The official visit to Australia by NationalAssembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has a significant meaning to the relations ofthe two countries, according to Prof. Carl Thayer fromthe University of New South Wales (UNSW).

He noted that this is the first by a senior leader ofVietnam to Australia after the two countries re-opened their doors after the COVID-19 pandemic, and also the first by Hue as the top legislator ofVietnam. He will have a meeting with the new Speaker of the Australian House ofRepresentatives, he added.

The expert highlighted the sound relations between theparliaments of Vietnam and Australia, emphasising that in 2018 when the twocountries lifted up their relationship to a strategic partnership, they set agoal to foster the political relations between the two parliaments and amonglegislators.

After the pandemic, the bilateral ties are entering a new developmentperiod, he held, adding that during the Vietnamese leader’s visit, the twosides can discuss and decide on cooperation in the strategic partnershipframework.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown his hope toupgrade the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Thismay be realised in 2023 when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, he held.

Commenting on cooperation potential between the two countries, Prof. Thayersaid that the action plan to implement the bilateral strategic partnership willend next year, which means a new plan for 2024 and beyond must be sketched out.

The two sides can draw out a new cooperation period for thenext two or three years, with one of the focuses being further deepening the parliamentaryrelations and increasing visits among legislators, he said.

Prof. Thayer said that the agenda between the two countriesshould include seeking measures to effectively implement reached agreements.

Both Vietnam and Australia are members of the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreementfor Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which enables them to collaborate inmany areas such as farm produce trading, he held, noting that the twocountries are discussing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity(IPEF) initiated by the US.

Legislators of the two sides will also share information andopinions regarding anti-corruption and law-building. Digital economy, energytransition, decarbonisation, education-training, public health, and climatechange will also be among focuses of the bilateral relationship, he asserted.

The expert underlined that in the time to come, legislatorsof the two countries should work together to legalise their agreements, whileseeking measures to deal with tough issues such as digital economy./.