Top leader To Lam's Australia visit to open new chapter in bilateral ties

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam, in an interview granted to VOV, described the trip as a milestone that comes at a time when the two countries are entering a new phase in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

The ambassador underscored that the relationship, built on more than five decades of diplomatic ties, has expanded significantly in recent years as Vietnam and Australia increasingly share strategic interests and seek closer cooperation in response to an evolving regional and global environment.

“The visit is expected to reinforce political trust at the highest level, inject fresh momentum into implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and shape future cooperation priorities across politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, education, defence and people-to-people exchanges,” the diplomat told VOV.

He added that the two sides are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues, strengthen coordination in multilateral forums and reaffirm their shared commitment to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.

Against a backdrop of growing global uncertainty, the visit is expected not only to advance bilateral ties but also to reinforce support for multilateralism, strengthen strategic trust and further implement Vietnam's foreign policy priorities toward comprehensive strategic partners.

Partnership gains momentum

According to Ambassador Tam, Vietnam-Australia cooperation has expanded steadily since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.

Political trust has been strengthened through frequent high-level exchanges, dialogue mechanisms and close coordination at regional and international forums. The two countries have also made solid progress in implementing their 2024-2027 Action Plan, with around 96% of planned actions either completed or on schedule.

Economic cooperation is a key pillar of the relationship. Bilateral trade reached US$8.1 billion in the first six months of 2026, up nearly 22% from a year earlier. Vietnam’s exports to Australia rose more than 25% to US$3.8 billion during the period.

Australia is now among Vietnam's top 10 partners in trade, tourism and official development assistance.

Defence and security cooperation has also expanded, including the first ministerial-level Security Dialogue in Canberra in October 2024 and the first participation of a Vietnamese naval vessel in Australia's Exercise Kakadu.

Science, technology and innovation have emerged as new drivers of bilateral cooperation.

The two countries are implementing the second phase of the Aus4Innovation programme and a memorandum of understanding on innovation, focusing on expanding collaboration in agriculture, health care, biosecurity, environmental protection and advanced technologies.

The establishment of the Vietnam-Australia Strategic Technologies Centre in Hanoi, together with the Australia-Vietnam Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Initiative, has laid the groundwork for cooperation in areas such as 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

Education is another bright spot, with Australia awarding around 70 scholarships to Vietnamese students each year. Vietnam is currently the fourth-largest source of international students in Australia. There are around 20,000 Vietnamese students studying at Australian institutions or under Australian education programmes in Vietnam.

People-to-people and cultural exchanges have also continued to expand. Earlier this year, Vietnam staged its first-ever extended tour of the Royal Court Music of Hue across three Australian states and territories, further strengthening cultural links between the two countries.

“More than two years after upgrading ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnam-Australia cooperation has achieved significant progress in both breadth and depth. Cooperation across traditional pillars has continued to strengthen, while new areas of collaboration have steadily emerged,” the ambassador stressed.

New momentum for innovation and resilient supply chains

Looking ahead, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam said the visit will help to transform political commitments into long-term cooperation programmes delivering tangible benefits for both countries. He identified science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and the digital economy as areas with the greatest potential for breakthroughs.

A highlight of the visit will be the Tech Connect forum in Sydney, the first large-scale bilateral forum dedicated to science, technology, innovation and education. The event is expected to bring together government agencies, universities, research institutions and businesses to foster high-value collaborative projects.

The ambassador also said Vietnam and Australia are set to deepen cooperation in building resilient supply chains while expanding collaboration in energy, food security and infrastructure to strengthen the resilience of both economies.

With strong political trust, highly complementary economies and a shared commitment to closer cooperation, he said he believes the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is well positioned to become deeper, more practical and more effective, contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and beyond.

Top leader To Lam to pay state visits to Australia and New Zealand

VOV.VN - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam, along with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will make state visits to Australia and New Zealand from August 9 to 14, 2026.