To deepen and enhance the effectiveness of Vietnam-Australia relations.

On the afternoon of February 18th, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who was on a working visit to Vietnam. He welcomed her first visit to Vietnam in her capacity as Foreign Minister.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung receives Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop during her official visit to Vietnam. Photo: VNA.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung proposed that both sides strengthen and promote visits to boost cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment, and tourism.

The two sides agreed to continue supporting and providing development aid to Vietnam in infrastructure investment and strengthening cooperation in education and training. In addition, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung proposed that the two sides promote cooperation in defense and security, work towards the early conclusion of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and support the Vietnamese community in Australia to live and work stably.

Regarding the South China Sea issue, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also requested Australia to continue supporting ASEAN in the strict implementation of the DOC and the deployment of the COC, ensuring maritime security and safety in the South China Sea.

Ms. Julie Bishop emphasized that Australia places particular importance on cooperation with Vietnam, as evidenced by her immediate choice of Vietnam as a destination to promote cooperation upon her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Bishop stated that during this visit, the two sides discussed concrete solutions to strongly promote cooperative relations between the two countries in the coming period, especially in the areas of trade and investment, which only reached US$7 billion in 2013, and in the fields of energy and mining.

Ms. Julie Bishop also stated that there are promising prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the field of education and training, therefore the Australian Government will increase scholarships and create the most favorable conditions for Vietnamese students to study in Australia and vice versa.

Affirming Australia's support for maintaining maritime security and safety in the South China Sea, Julie Bishop expressed her desire to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the field of defense and security, especially in combating transnational crime.

According to Vietnam+