(VOVWORLD) - President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines will conclude her official visit to Vietnam on Friday. She expressed optimism that the strong relationship between Vietnam and Australia will open up new opportunities for stronger bilateral cooperation.
 President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (Photo: VOV) |
During her six-day visit, Lines met with National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, paid a courtesy visit to Party General Secretary and President To Lam, participated in the Vietnam-Australia Forum, and laid wreaths at President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.
At her meetings with senior Vietnamese leaders, the Senate President reaffirmed that Vietnam is a key partner of Australia and that the Australian Government and Parliament place a high priority on fostering strong ties with Vietnam as part of Australia’s broader foreign policy in the region. The Australian Parliament fully supports the advancement of a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, she said.
Lines highlighted the close relationship in politics, strategy, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, noting the significance of these ties for both nations. With the recent upgrade of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Australia and Vietnam have become priority and essential partners, laying the groundwork for building on existing achievements and expanding cooperation into new areas.
Lines said her visit underscores the importance of parliamentary cooperation and Australia's role as a vital partner for Vietnam in trade, investment, education, and development initiatives. She was upbeat about future cooperation prospects.
As part of her visit, the President of the Australian Senate, accompanied by a delegation of Australian parliamentarians, visited several cultural and historical sites in Vietnam, including Văn Miếu-Quốc Tử Giám (the Temple of Literature), the Museum of Ethnology, and the Tràng An eco-tourism area at the Tràng An World Cultural and Natural Heritage Complex in Ninh Bình.