(VOVworld) – The Vietnamese Consulate General and diplomatic agencies of other ASEAN nations held a ceremony in Perth, Western Australia, on Wednesday to hoist the ASEAN flag to mark the bloc’s 47^th anniversary and celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia dialogue partnership.

Diplomats at the flag raising ceremony (Photo:Vietnamese Consulate General in Perth)

Speaking at the event, Michael Wood of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs underlined the fine relations the two sides have enjoyed over the years, saying they share common views on regional and global issues. He added that Australia and Vietnam have a similar stance on the challenges ahead. On behalf of the ASEAN Committee in Canberra, Vietnamese Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi hailed improvement in ASEAN-Australia ties in economics, politics, and culture over the past four decades, especially since the two sides established a comprehensive partnership in 2007 and in 2009 signed an agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade area. Nghi called for practical steps by Western Australia’s authorities to enhance relations with ASEAN countries, especially once the ASEAN community is established.