Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, his wife and delegation arrived in Melbourne, Victoria on October 14 as part of their visit to Australia.

Mr Dung met with the Governor of Victoria, David de Kretser, and the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby.

At the meeting, PM Dung highlighted great potential for bilateral cooperation between Victoria State and Vietnamese localities in education and training, trade, investment and tourism.

In terms of education and training, Australia has attracted a large number of Vietnamese students in which, Victoria State - an advanced education environment - is one of the top options for many.

Mr Dung asked the Governor and the Premier of Victoria to create positive conditions for Vietnamese students to study and do research in Australia and hoped that Australia will further promote its cooperation with Vietnam in key areas such as financial and telecommunication services, agriculture, dairy cow breeding, oil and gas exploitation, energy and labour.

The Vietnamese Government has and will always attach great importance to further strengthening friendship and cooperation with Australia and Victoria State as well, said Mr Dung.

Mr Dung also requested the Governor and the Premier of Victoria offer more favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to make greater contributions to the administration of their country of residence, serving as a bridge to the promotion of the time-honoured friendship.

For his part, the Australian leaders spoke highly of PM Dung’s visit, describing it a testimony to making bilateral cooperation more effective and substantive.

Victoria is Australia’s leading trade and industrial centre based on strong areas such as food processing, petrochemistry, aluminium and financial services. Victoria’s agricultural production accounts for 1/4 of the whole country’s output with main items including wool, lamb, wheat and dairy products.

The two Australian leaders expressed hope that Victoria will promote its cooperation with Vietnamese localities in these fields.

The same day, PM Dung met with leaders from major Australian groups and attended the Vietnam-Australia business forum.

In his speech, Mr Dung briefed entrepreneurs on the socio-economic achievements Vietnam has made during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and pointed out difficulties that have confronted by Vietnam since early this year amid the global economic downturn.

The Vietnam-Australia business forum is a practical activity for businesses from both countries to exchange information and seek cooperation and investment opportunities, particularly in potential areas such as mining, light industry, processing industry, finance, banking and other services.

After the forum, PM Dung witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries’ businesses including a US$1 billion project to build an economic area in southern Tien Giang province and a Saigon bridge project worth US$110 million.

In the afternoon of the same day, PM Dung and his delegation was due to leave Melbourne, successfully concluding their visit to Australia.