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Submitted by ctv_en_4 on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 10:12
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung began an official two-day visit to Australia on October 13 at the invitation of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The visit aims to promote friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, especially now that Australia has just formed a new government.

The visit takes place at a time when Vietnam and Australia are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. It creates a chance for the two countries to discuss measures to boost bilateral cooperation, particularly in economics, trade, investment, agriculture, industry, science and technology, education and training, tourism and health care, as well as encouraging the Vietnamese community in Australia to make further contributions to their native land.


Since the two countries established their diplomatic ties on February 26, 1973, bilateral relations have developed well through the exchange of high-level visits. They included visits to Australia by Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet in 1993, Party General Secretary Do Muoi in 1995, National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh in 1998, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in 1999 and 2005, Vice President Truong My Hoa in 2006, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam in 1995, 1997, 2000, State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister in 2007, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan in 2008, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in 2008 and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong in 2008. Meanwhile, Vietnam has welcomed Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1994, Governor General Bill Hayden in 1995, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Trade Minister Tom Fisher in 1996, Foreign Minster Alexander Downer in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003, Prime Minister John Howard in 2006 and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in 2008. Most recently, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd phoned Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in June 2008 and met with State President Nguyen Minh Triet, while attending the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 


In addition to political ties, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has developed strongly. The two countries have signed an agreement on economic and trade cooperation in 1990, an agreement on investment promotion and protection in 1991, an agreement on double tax avoidance in 1992, a supplementary agreement on goods provisions in 1993, an agreement on air services in 1995 and an agreement on consular affairs in 2003. They have also signed a number of memoranda of understanding on cooperation in science and technology, intellectual property, legal assistance, the environment, sports, social services, crime prevention, education and training. 


Two-way trade has increased significantly from just US$32.3 million in 1990 to US$4.56 billion in 2007. In the first seven months of this year, two-way trade fetched approximately US$3.7 billion, including nearly US$2.9 billion worth of exports from Vietnam. As a result, Australia is Vietnam’s 7th biggest trade partner and third biggest export market.


Thanks to its political stability and high economic growth, Vietnam has attracted hundreds of Australian businesses to invest mostly in industrial, construction, services, forestry and fishery sectors. Australia has so far invested more than US$1 billion in 174 projects in Vietnam, ranking 17th among 81 foreign investors in the country. 


Australia is an industrialised nation. In its economic structure, services make up 70 percent, industry 26 percent and agriculture 4 percent. In 2007, its GDP reached nearly US$890 billion while the budget surplus stayed at US$13 billion and per capita income rose to US$36,300.


As the two countries have great potential for cooperation, it is anticipated that Mr Dung’s visit will be a success and lift the Vietnam-Australia relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation to a new height for the prosperity of each nation as well as for the sake of peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and the world.

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