Sydney (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government alwayscreates all favourable conditions for airlines, both state-owned and private, to develop and compete healthily, and encourages Australian carriers to flyto Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated at a ceremony to mark 30 years of Vietnam – Australia direct air route in Melbourne city on March 5 morning.

The PM attended the event as part of activities in his trip toattend the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit, and hisofficial visit to the country.

The Vietnamese Government leader emphasised the important role of air transportin current economic development, stating that Vietnam has had policies to developairlines.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam's airlines will cooperate and competefairly, especially in the current context - when the two countries will upgradeto a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Currently, Vietnameseairlines do not use domestically trained pilots, engineers, and mechanics, so hehoped Australia to support the training of pilots, mechanics,aviation managers.

He also urged Australian banks, investment funds, and investors to invest indirectlyin Vietnamese airlines, saying that the Vietnamese ministries and sectors will strengthentheir role in state management, remove difficulties, and proactively supportairlines to overcome challenges and promote rapid and sustainable development.

The PM took the occasion to thank Australia, specificallyAustralian citizens who choose Vietnamese airlines such as Vietnam Airlines andVietjet, to visit Vietnam, saying that this has contributed to boosting culturalconnections and aviation economic development of the two countries.

Heexpressed his belief that Vietnam Airlines will reap more achievements in the next30 years thanks to the foundations for development laid over the past time.

In the early 90s of the last century, Vietnam Airlines launched a direct air route to Australia with irregular flights each month between HoChi Minh City and Sydney and Melbourne.

In the following years, the national flag carrier opened moreregular direct flights to the country and continuously increased flightfrequency. So far, the firm operates 23 flights per week on five routes fromHanoi and HCM City to Melbourne; Hanoi and HCM City to Sydney, and HCM City to  Perth. Over the last three decades, VietnamAirlines operated more than 12,800 flights, transported 6 million passengers andnearly 170,000 tonnes of goods.

According to Chairman of the Board of Directors of VietnamAirlines Dang Ngoc Hoa, since the early 90s, Vietnam Airlines has promotedopportunities for cooperation in the aviation field, acting as a bridge for two-waytrade, investment, and tourism development between the two countries. Theairline has continuously increased frequency and expanded flightnetwork to new destinations to perfect the flight network between the twocountries and maintain its position as a key airline connecting Vietnam and Australia.

VietnamAirlines has been strengthening cooperation with partners in Australia todevelop products and diversify services, thereby continuously bringing benefitsto passengers. It has paid attention to coordinating with agencies, travelcompanies and Australian partners to strengthen tourism promotion and promote destinationsof both countries./.