The High Level Consultations were led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong (Vietnam) and Mr. Philip Green, First Assistant Secretary, South East Asia Mainland and Regional Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia).
Deputy Minister Nguyen The Phuong and First Assistant Secretary Philip Green sign the record of conversation from the meeting.
Key achievements of Australia-Vietnam development cooperation over 2015-2017 include good progress in construction of the Cao Lanh Bridge, which is on track for completion in late 2017; encouraging progress in developing three new initiatives to develop a strong and competitive private sector in Vietnam, including Aus4Reform, Aus4Transport and Aus4Water; effective commencement of the new Aus4Skills initiative in 2016, which will continue to deliver the prestigious Australia Awards Scholarships, as well as a new range of flexible human resource development support packages; and support for women’s economic empowerment, including preparation for the new Aus4Equality and Investing in Women initiatives.
Australia-Vietnam Aid High Level Consultations
“Vietnam has been an important partner to Australia in the region for a long time, and our commitment to development cooperation with Vietnam is on-going. Given Vietnam’s tremendous achievements in socio-economic development, it is now time to transform the relationship into an economic partnership, based on mutual benefit and shared challenges”, First Assistant Secretary Philip Green commented.
The economic partnership is expected to be built on the following principles: Commitment to pursuing shared economic interests as outlined in our Plan of Action 2016-2019; Encouraging a dynamic private sector; Fostering greater business and market access opportunities; Empowering women in the economy; and Promoting environmentally sustainable growth.
Delegations to the Australia-Vietnam Aid High Level Consultations
“Australia and Vietnam have a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, cemented in the Declaration on Enhancing the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, signed in 2015, and supported by the suite of initiatives identified in the Plan of Action 2016-19, signed by Foreign Ministers in November 2016. This transformation will help boost the comprehensive partnership between the two countries in the years to come,” said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Mr. Craig Chittick.
* Australia has had development cooperation with Vietnam for 26 years. Support from Australia has covered a wide range of development areas, in line with Vietnam’s socio-economic development plans. In the single financial year of 2016-2017, Australia’s estimated aid to Vietnam is $83.6 million, making Vietnam the sixth largest recipient of Australian aid.
Australian development cooperation activities are guided by a five year Aid Investment Plan (2016-2020), where Australian support will focus on three key priorities: (1) enabling and engaging the private sector for development; (2) assisting the development and employment of a highly skilled workforce; and (3) promoting women’s economic empowerment, including ethnic minorities. These priorities reflect Vietnam’s development needs and the areas where Australia can add value.
Reported by Phuong Linh