General Secretary and President To Lam: Australia Is One of Vietnam’s Top Partners

In Sydney on the afternoon of August 10, General Secretary and President To Lam received Nicholas Moore, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia. The high-level meeting took place as part of the Vietnamese leader’s State visit to Australia.

Special Envoy Nicholas Moore warmly welcomed the delegation. He described the visit as a vital milestone celebrating more than 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

During the meeting, Moore outlined several key avenues to deepen bilateral ties. These include implementing Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, expanding two-way trade, and boosting strategic investment. Furthermore, he emphasized connecting Australian investors with Vietnam’s priority industries through practical collaboration models.

Moore praised recent commercial achievements while stressing the need to aim for higher trade volumes. Recent partnership signings in aviation and other sectors will accelerate this momentum. Additionally, Moore noted that he has submitted specific recommendations to the Australian Government to remove barriers and boost two-way capital flows.

The Special Envoy highlighted that both nations have the potential to become thriving hubs for tech startups. Many international investors actively look to Vietnam due to its clear ambitions, dynamic market, and strategic focus. Moreover, Australia’s vibrant Vietnamese diaspora and student community offer a strong foundation for creative entrepreneurship.

General Secretary and President To Lam receives Nicholas Moore, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA.

President To Lam expressed his desire for Vietnam to remain a central partner as Australia rolls out its 2040 Southeast Asia strategy. He highly commended Moore’s leadership in drafting the strategy and connecting Australian business leaders with regional opportunities.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam considers Australia a top-tier partner in the Indo-Pacific. With relations reaching new heights, both sides must ensure their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership yields practical, high-value outcomes. Beyond expanding trade volume, both nations must actively build new engines for economic growth.

President To Lam shared that Vietnam aims to become a high-income nation by 2045. To reach this goal, the country relies on science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, green growth, and private sector dynamism.

Consequently, Vietnam views Australia as an essential partner for this journey. Vietnam offers a stable investment climate, a young workforce, and a strategic position in global supply chains. Therefore, the country prioritizes foreign projects featuring advanced technology, modern governance, high added value, and strong technology transfer.

President To Lam called for a decisive shift toward long-term joint initiatives. Key priority areas include high-quality infrastructure, strategic supply chains, green finance, research, and education.

Ultimately, Vietnam and Australia complement each other well in resources, development levels, and regional vision. Both nations should turn these shared strengths into concrete economic projects, cementing their partnership and delivering tangible benefits to their citizens.