Australian Governor-General wraps up State visit to Vietnam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talks to Australian Governor-General David Hurley.

Australian Governor-General David Hurley, his spouse and the Australian delegation left Ho Chi Minh City on April 6, wrapping up his State visit to Vietnam from April 3-6.

This is the first foreign leader paying a State visit to Vietnam in 2023, and also the first national guest that President Vo Van Thuong has received in his new position. The visit is part of activities in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations.

During his visit, Hurley laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, and President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi; attended an official welcome ceremony; held talks with President Vo Van Thuong; met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. He also visited the headquarters of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in Hanoi and several educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City.

President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse host a banquet for Australian Governor-General David Hurley and his spouse. (Photo: VNA)

At the talks and meetings between Vietnamese leaders and the Australian Governor-General, the two sides expressed their pleasure with the substantive and effective development of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries after 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Many cooperation areas mentioned in the Action Programme for the period 2020-2023 have become pillars and bright spots in the two countries' relationship such as security - defense, economy - trade, science - technology, education - training, and people-to-people exchange.

The leaders shared about collaboration between the legislatures of the two countries in perfecting legal institutions to strengthen cooperation in regional and global issues such as promoting the digital transformation ecosystem and just energy transition and climate change response. Considering that the two countries still have a lot of room and potential for cooperation, they discussed major orientations to beef up Vietnam-Australia relations in various fields. They agreed to discuss upgrading the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time.

Within the framework of the visit, President Vo Van Thuong's spouse Phan Thi Thanh Tam and spouse of the Australian Governor-General Linda Hurley visited the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

The State visit to Vietnam by Australian Governor-General David Hurley and his wife has contributed to further strengthening the bilateral realtions and the strategic trust between the two countries, and is a prominent milestone in the year celebrating the two countries' diplomatic ties./.