(VOVWORLD) - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for newly-appointed Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird in Hanoi on Monday, expressing his belief that her tenure would further advance the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son receives Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird. (photo: VGP/ Hai Minh) |
Son expressed his hope that Australia would continue to support Vietnam’s development goals through practical collaboration. He urged the Ambassador to actively maintain the momentum of bilateral engagement, especially through continued high-level delegation exchanges, inter-agency cooperation, and locality-to-locality connections. He called for regular reviews of the delivery of key commitments, including the 2024–2027 Action Plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
 The Vietnamese and Australian diplomats attend the event. (photo: VGP/ Hai Minh) |
He pointed to the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy as a cornerstone of trade ties, urging both nations to expand market access, leverage free trade agreements, aim for a two-way trade target of 20 billion USD, uphold a rules-based free trade system and ensure supply chains.
Ambassador Bird affirmed that Vietnam is always a reliable and valued partner of Australia, pledging to translate high-level commitments into tangible projects and collaborate closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to international law and agreed to foster peace, stability, and cooperation regionally and globally.