Fresh Impetus For Vietnam-Australia Partnership

In his article on Prime Minister's Nguyen Tan Dung visit to Australia,Prof. Carlyle A. Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) has said the trip would add  fresh impetus to the Vietnam- Australia relations.

According to the author, the visit is of great significance for upgrading the bilateral relations to a strengthened comprehensive partnership, providing a firmer foundation for a plan of action to promote new areas of cooperation and optimize key priorities for the future.

Earlier, the Australia-Vietnam Plan of Action for 2010-2013 to implement the comprehensive partnership in 2009 was invalid more than a year ago.

Professor Carlyle A.Thayer said fostering the strengthened comprehensive partnership signifies Vietnam's sound policy of maintaining long-term foreign relations and proactive international integration.

The enhanced comprehensive partnership will also help Australia positively contribute to Vietnam's development and security as well as security and economic growth in Southeast Asia.

Regarding the Vietnam-Australia relations, the author said the comprehensive partnership is developing far and wide, spanning from economics, trade, industry, development assistance to national defence, law enforcement and security.

Both nations increasingly share common interests in regional stability and security and economic growth and common views on issues related to diplomacy, economics, development, security and defence.

The two sides have agreed that sovereignty disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea) should be resolved peacefully through dialogues without the use of force on the basis of respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

As planned, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is set to visit Australia on March 17-18 and to New Zealand later.