Australian trade minister to visit Vietnam to boost ties

Don Farrell, Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, is scheduled to visit Vietnam this week to enhance investment and trade relations between the two countries.

He announced his working trip to Vietnam and the Philippines on Sunday via the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, but the specific dates have not been finalized.

“Today I will depart for a visit to Vietnam and the Philippines. My trip signifies the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthening and diversifying our economic relationships across the region,” he wrote.

“Australia and Vietnam are strong partners and friends with this year marking our 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. We share an ambition to elevate our relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

“In Vietnam, I will meet with the Prime Minister and other senior government officials to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional interests,” the Senator added.

In Hanoi, he will co-host the annual Economic Partnership Meeting with Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment. “I will also meet with the Minister of Industry and Trade to discuss the upcoming inaugural Trade Ministers Dialogue.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern economic hub, he is poised to mark the commencement of improved flight routes between Vietnam and Australia. The flight routes will facilitate an increase in two-way travel and bolster the Australian economy through increased tourism, business travel, and freight options.

“From Ho Chi Minh City, I will travel to the Philippines to discuss our ambition to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership in 2023,” Farrell wrote.

“In our region, Vietnam and the Philippines are among the top emerging markets for international visitation to Australia and we hope our strong bilateral relationships with both nations will see continued growth in two-way travel.”

Farrell’s Vietnam trip follows Australian Governor-General David Hurley’s State visit to Vietnam on April 3-6 to contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relations and the strategic trust between the two countries.

Australia became the 7th largest trade partner of Vietnam in 2022 with two-way trade hitting $15.7 billion, according to Vietnamese official data. The positive results were attributed to the efforts of both sides in promoting economic and trade cooperation, fully tapping free trade agreements.

They include the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).