Australia Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will pay a visit to Vietnam from May 26-28 to open the Cao Lanh Bridge with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and co-chair the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Australia Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (Source: VNA)
Sydney (VNA) –Australia Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will pay a visit to Vietnam from May26-28 to open the Cao Lanh Bridge with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc and co-chair the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The minister said in amedia release on May 26 that Australia has co-financed the design andconstruction of the Cao Lanh Bridge as part of a major new transport projectthat will help connect 18 million people in the Mekong Delta with regionalmarkets and drive economic growth.
Australia’s 160 million AUD (over 121 million USD)investment in the project is one of the country’s largest aid activities inSoutheast Asia.
The Cao Lanh Bridge is a visible symbol ofthe depth of the Australia-Vietnam relationship, now formalised as a StrategicPartnership, and demonstrates Australia’s commitment to build closer linkagesacross the Indo-Pacific region, to bring people together and encourage greatertrade and investment, she noted.
Meanwhile, the inaugural Foreign Ministers’Meeting is a direct outcome of the new Strategic Partnership between Australiaand Vietnam, signed by Prime Ministers Turnbull and Phuc prior to theASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March.
Australia and Vietnam are celebrating 45years of diplomatic relations this year, she said, noting that strong communityand personal ties are the basis of the relationship, marked by 300,000 membersof the Vietnamese community in Australia - one of the largest migrantcommunities in the country.
Julie Bishop said she looks forward todiscussing with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh howAustralia and Vietnam can expand their collaboration, particularly on importantregional issues relating to stability, security and prosperity.
Cao Lanh bridge in the Mekong Delta province ofDong Thap, spanning over the Tien River and linking Cao Lanh city and Lap Vo district,is located about 0.8 kilometre from Cao Lanh ferry and about 35 kilometres fromMy Thuan bridge, which connects Tien Giang and Vinh Long provinces.
The 2,000-metre long bridge is expected to makesignificant contributions to improving road traffic network, boosting socialand economic development and consolidating defence and security in the MekongDelta region, which is not only a rice granary and the third largest industrialcentre in Vietnam but also one of the most productive agricultural andaquaculture areas in the world.-VNA
The Vietnamese National Assembly supports strengthening strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia, creating a new important framework to push forward their deeper and more practical ties.
Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and his spouse left Ho Chi Minh City on May 26, concluding a State visit to Vietnam from May 23-26 at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
Australia Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (Source: VNA) 
