Sydney (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue held talkswith Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and WaterResources Barnaby Joyce and had a working session with Minister of ForeignAffairs Julie Bishop and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Cioboin Sydney on July 25.

At the meetings, the Australian officials lauded Vietnam’s active rolein the Southeast Asian region, and affirmed Australia’s priority to therelations with Vietnam. They wished to bring the ties with Vietnam to a newheight.

The two sides shared delight at the strong growth of the Vietnam-Australiarelations, especially since the two countries lift their ties to ComprehensivePartnership in 2009 and released a Joint Statement on Enhancing theComprehensive Partnership in March 2015.

They agreed to deepen the bilateral relationship and work closely toprepare for visits of senior leaders of both countries in late 2017 and early2018 to mark the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Australiadiplomatic relations.

Both sides concurred on measures to reinforce their comprehensivepartnership in politics, economy-trade, agriculture, development assistance, education-training,science-technology-renovation, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

Deputy PM Hue and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce, who is Acting Prime Minister,and other Australian officials affirmed their determination to beef upbilateral economic, trade and investment and increase two-way trade from thecurrent 5 billion USD per year, while increasing investments in such promisingareas as agriculture, education, infrastructure, and creative technology.

The two countries will work together for the establishment of a dialoguemechanism at ministerial level in economy-trade, looking towards setting up aneconomic partnership in the future.

The two sides agreed to coordinate in gradually removing obstacleshindering the trade of agricultural and aquatic products, promoting businessconnectivity and the formation of production-supply chain and increasing addedvalue for farm produces.

Barnaby Joyce and Steven Ciobo said that Australia will affiliateclosely with Vietnamese partners to support the import of qualified fruits andfresh shrimp to Australia.

Australia will also continue providing official development assistance (ODA)to Vietnam in areas of climate change response, human resources development, privatesector capacity enhancement, and gender equality.

Deputy PM Hue stated that Vietnam will use Australian ODA in aneffective manner to fulfil its goals in poverty reduction, improving livelihoodsof locals in mountainous and rural areas.

The two sides also shared many common views on regional andinternational matters. They agreed to continue coordinating closely andsupporting each other at multilateral forums, especially the ASEAN.

Amidst significant changes in geopolitics-economy in the region,Australia affirmed its comprehensive support and active assistance for the ASEANto fulfil its targets in building the ASEAN Community, strengtheningconnectivity, narrowing down development gap, reinforcing intra-bloc solidarityand promoting its central role in dealing with strategic matters in the region.

The two sides also underlined the importance of maintaining peace,stability, overflight and maritime security, safety and freedom in the region,as well as the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis ofinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Theyhighlighted the significance of respecting diplomatic and legal processes, exercisingself-restraint, not taking unilateral actions to escalate tensions and dispute,and strictly implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the EastSea and the early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese and Australian officials stressed the need to enhancecooperation to seek suitable orientations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership andspeed up the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Also on July 25, before concluding his three-day visit to Australia,Deputy PM Hue visited the Innovation Xchange run by the Australian Ministry ofForeign Affairs, which is an initiative of Minister Julie Bishop to enhance theefficiency of development support projects and programmes that Australiaoperates in the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions. - VNA