PM Julia Gillard of Australia, who is in Vietnam to attend the East Asia Summit and related summits, was received by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and State President Nguyen Minh Triet and held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Most prominent during the talks were Australian funding for the Cao Lanh bridge project in Dong Thap province to help connect the entire Mekong Delta central region, and the Vietnam-Australia action plan for the 2010-13 period.

While meeting with the Vietnamese Party leader, the Australian Prime Minister informed him of the two above-mentioned accords and pledged further official development assistance (ODA) and stronger support for Vietnam’s global integration.

PM Gillard assured General Secretary Manh of Australia’s policy to respect relations with Vietnam, which, she said, have been faring well in the recent past, especially in trade, investment, education-training and infrastructure.

She lauded Vietnam’s dynamism and responsibility as ASEAN chair, saying the country has been playing an important role in promoting regional cooperation as well as improving relations between ASEAN and partner countries and will continue develop steadily in a long-term run.

At her meeting with State President Triet, PM Gillard congratulated Vietnam on fulfilling its ASEAN chairmanship in 2010 as shown in successfully hosting the 17^th ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Summit and other relevant summits.

In reply, President Triet expressed satisfaction at the positive development of Vietnam-Australia relations in the spirit of comprehensive partnership while appreciating Australia’s role in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as well.

He expressed thanks for Australia’s great and practical assistance to Vietnam in national development, citing its aid to two major bridges, the cable-stayed My Thuan bridge, the first across the Mekong Delta, and the freshly-signed Cao Lanh bridge project.

During their talks, PM Dung described the Australia-aided bridge project as important, benefiting millions of locals and contributing to traffic connection in the Mekong Delta.

For her part, PM Gillard said bilateral economic relations have considerably improved in recent years but have not yet matched their potential. She asked the Vietnamese government to help Australian businesses boost long-term investment in the country.

The Australian government leader pledged to create good conditions for Vietnamese guest workers and boost cooperation in mining.

She also informed PM Dung of Australia’s decision to grant 350 scholarships for Vietnamese students as well as the opening of the RMIT chapter in Hanoi.

Host and guest both highlighted the recent fine development of bilateral relations as well as the need for the two parties to work closer together in materialising the Vietnam-Australia action plan for the 2010-13 period.

The action plan and the agreement in principle reached by the two governments on the Cao Lanh bridge project to connect the Mekong Delta central region took place in the presence of the two prime ministers after their talks.

The two accords are considered a legal foundation to boost bilateral cooperation in specific areas.