Main content of the statement on Strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership between Vietnam and Australia

Vietnam - Australia relations are built on mutual respect and common interests. That relationship contributes to peace, stability, cooperation and development of each country, the region and the world. On September 7, 2009, in order to strengthen and strengthen bilateral relations, the two countries established the Vietnam - Australia Comprehensive Partnership. The following year, the two countries agreed to develop a Vietnam-Australia Action Program for the period 2010 - 2013 to create a framework to promote the implementation of cooperation areas of the Comprehensive Partnership.

Recognizing the economic and strategic changes in the region since 2009, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of Australia are committed to continuing to promote the achievements of the Comprehensive Partnership and the original Action Program through this Declaration on Strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership, which has been updated to reflect current changes in the region as well as the increasingly stable bilateral relationship. The two countries will develop a second Action Program to implement priority areas of cooperation with a new focus.

Vietnam and Australia have common interests in maintaining security, stability and economic growth in the region. A safe and stable regional environment that respects sovereignty and international law will benefit both sides. Both sides acknowledged that there are still major challenges to building a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

Vietnam and Australia share the same goal of strengthening and developing regional and international institutions to promote common political, economic and security interests. Vietnam and Australia will continue to cooperate in shaping the future of the region and the global environment. Both sides recognize the importance of an appropriate regional structure, especially ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), to resolve issues affecting the region.

The Australian Government and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam emphasize the need for a multilateral trade system operating on the basis of law to create a foundation for the global economy to grow and develop healthily. Both sides are committed to deepening bilateral trade and investment relations and creating the best possible conditions for business activities to develop strongly. Australia recognizes and supports Vietnam in achieving the goal of sustainable economic development to bring benefits to the country and Vietnamese people.

The Declaration on Strengthening the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Partnership was designed to promote the achievements that have been achieved, continue to expand and deepen the strong relationship between Vietnam and Australia, and implement the principles of bringing common benefits to the region as stated above. Specifically, this Declaration creates a framework to promote cooperation between the two countries in the following key areas:

Bilateral Cooperation

– Vietnam and Australia recognize the importance of high-level political dialogue to promote bilateral cooperation and continue to promote high-level delegation exchanges and working-level dialogue between the Communist Party, Government and National Assembly of Vietnam and Australian political parties, Government and Parliament. The two countries share common interests for regional peace and security; affirmed that they will continue to dialogue and cooperate on issues of defense, security, maritime and aviation safety in the region, law enforcement and combating transnational crime.

– Vietnam and Australia highly appreciate the contributions of the Vietnamese community in Australia and the Australian community in Vietnam to the socio-economic development of the two countries, as well as in promoting friendship and cooperation. At the same time, the two sides commit to strengthening the strong links between the two peoples through promoting cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism.

– Vietnam and Australia affirmed that they will expand mutually beneficial scientific cooperation between the two sides; Committed to cooperation in the field of education and vocational training, promoting educational links through implementing partnerships between educational institutions and implementing the new Colombo plan; reaffirmed our commitment to promote cooperation on law and justice; affirmed that they will continue to seek opportunities to deepen this mutually beneficial relationship in areas such as food safety and quality standards, quarantine and agricultural research.

– Vietnam and Australia agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in other fields such as environmental protection and response to climate change, natural resources - environment, finance, information and communication, and consular affairs.

Regional and International Cooperation

– Vietnam and Australia recognize that the security and prosperity of the two countries are closely linked to stability in the Indo-Pacific region; affirmed that they will cooperate at regional forums to continue building a support structure for security, stability, environmental cooperation and promote confidence-building measures to minimize the risk of conflict in the region.

– Vietnam and Australia will cooperate to further strengthen regional structures, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), in which ASEAN plays a central role, to promote regional peace, stability and security. The two countries also pledged to cooperate closely at the United Nations in promoting issues of common interest and enhancing the effectiveness of the United Nations institution.

– Vietnam and Australia affirm the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, without using or threatening to use force. The two countries call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could increase tensions in the region. The two countries agreed on the urgent need to develop a code of conduct in the East Sea.

– The two sides committed to strengthening cooperation on other issues such as combating human trafficking and other forms of illegal immigration and promoting sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region.

Economic Growth and Development of Trade and Industry

– Based on the recognition that the economies of Vietnam and Australia are complementary, the two sides will develop and promote bilateral trade and investment relations in key areas; Encourage increased bilateral foreign direct investment flows; Committed to continuing to exchange information on standards, regulations, and technical requirements for import and export of goods, and to eliminate unnecessary duplicate control procedures that risk affecting economic relations between the two countries.

– Vietnam and Australia commit to strengthening cooperation and continuing efforts to quickly complete negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Both sides recognized the importance and opportunities brought by the ASEAN Economic Community.

– Recognizing the importance of the private sector as a driver of growth and job creation, the two sides will promote bilateral exchanges on issues such as system reform, transparency of competition and market policies, and the role of these measures in promoting economic development.

Development Cooperation

– Australia recognizes Vietnam's outstanding achievements in poverty reduction since the 1990s as well as current development goals and will continue to support Vietnam in implementing the Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2011-2020), including three breakthrough areas of human resource development and skills improvement; reform of market institutions; and infrastructure development.

– Australia will continue to support Vietnam to take advantage of opportunities in the process of participating in regional and global economic integration. Australia will continue to help Vietnam achieve its development goals and the goal of basically becoming a modern industrial country by 2020; build economic growth and resilience, as well as enhance our ability to participate competitively in global trade; and deploy economic diplomacy activities.

– Vietnam and Australia will maintain annual dialogues on development aid.

Defence, law enforcement and security cooperation

– Vietnam and Australia will continue to dialogue and cooperate on defense and security issues, through existing multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms; Committed to promoting cooperation and greater openness in defense relations through continued personnel exchanges, officer training and naval ship visits to each other.

– Vietnam and Australia will continue to cooperate in other areas such as aviation and maritime security, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, special forces and issues related to the consequences of war.

– Vietnam and Australia recognize the serious and growing risk of transnational crime and the importance of increased information sharing and intelligence exchanges. The two countries are committed to promoting cooperation against transnational crime in the region, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering and high-tech crime.

– Vietnam and Australia noted other challenges such as food security, natural resource management, disease risks and natural disasters. The two sides will cooperate to address these challenges both bilaterally and at international forums.