Vietnam and Australia have cultivated a strong relationship based on strategic trust and mutual understanding since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973.
The Strategic Partnership in 2018 deepened cooperation across multiple sectors, supported by complementary economies and close people-to-people ties. Both nations share a vision for a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region, emphasising respect for sovereignty, independence, and international law, particularly under the United Nations Charter.
Recognising the strength of their ties, Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Pham Minh Chinh announced the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) on March 7, 2024. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the high ambition of both nations, reinforcing their commitment to enhancing cooperation while respecting each other’s sovereignty and political systems.
In this article, AVPI Fellow Dr Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Development Studies, explores Australia and Vietnam’s key areas of cooperation following the elevation to a CSP. The article highlights both countries’ evolving relationship and commitment across trade, knowledge exchange, climate resilience and identifies new opportunities in sustainability, innovation, and inclusive growth to support Vietnam’s new phase of economic modernisation and global intergration.
Key takeaways
- Trade relations between Vietnam and Australia have experienced robust growth in recent years, underpinned by major free trade agreements such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
- Under the Development Partnership Plan (DPP), Australia supports Vietnam’s leadership capacity building and vocational education and training (VET) reforms to enhance national, regional, and international engagement.
- Vietnam and Australia are collaborating closely to enhance climate resilience in the Mekong Delta, a region highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
- Supporting Vietnam’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Australia is actively contributing to the development of renewable energy and green transport.
- Bilateral research partnerships can be further strengthened in fields such as environmental science, smart agriculture, AI, digital transformation, and public policy.
- Continued focus on education, skills training, and leadership development will remain essential. Australia can expand support through scholarship programs, vocational education partnerships, and executive training in public administration and digital governance.
