ASEAN, Australia show strong commitments in fostering ties: Australian expert

With the success of the special summit marking the 50th anniversary between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, the two sides have shown strong commitments to fostering their relations, commented Prof. Carl Thayer from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

ASEAN, Australia show strong commitments in fostering ties: Australian expert -0
Heads of delegations to the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit. Photo: VNA

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the summit, the expert showed impression at the Melbourne Declaration, which includes Australia’s commitments to supporting the ASEAN’s centrality, ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific Vision, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, in which Vietnam forms a part.

According to Thayer, Vietnam has shown a special interest to these issues which are important to the country on the path of achieving its development goals until 2045 of becoming a high-income developed country.

The important thing is that following the summit, leaders of ASEAN and Australia shared their desire to continue promoting a rules-based regional architecture, upholding international law, maintaining ASEA’s central role, and keeping respectful, stable, and peaceful relationships among countries.

They also committed to promoting strategic trust and cooperation, strengthening dialogue and open dialogue within ASEAN-led mechanisms to enhance mutual understanding, minimising the risk of miscalculation, preventing conflicts, and cooperating to address maritime pollution and sustainable development in the lower Mekong River, he said.

Vietnam, with special attention to multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, has become an active and positive member of the international community, he said, describing the country as a “crew member on the ASEAN ship” that always wants to keep it on track and affirms to other crew members that all share a common future. By 2040, the grouping can become the second or fourth largest economy in the world if it maintains its growth rate, he said.

Thayer highlighted Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements, stressing it has been elected twice as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, showing other countries’ confidence in Vietnam as a sincere mediator, and their wish to cooperate with Vietnam. It always has positive and constructive comments on how to promote the agenda and help ASEAN gradually achieve progress in sensitive areas, he stated.

According to the expert, supporting the building of a strong and united ASEAN is important to Australia. By signing a trade agreement with ASEAN, Australia can work with all the 10 member countries to the same standards. And Vietnam plays an important role in this issue by sharing its experiences with other ASEAN countries and keeping ASEAN autonomous, Thayer held./.

Politics-Diplomacy

Vietnamese top legislator receives Ethiopian PM
Politics-Diplomacy

Vietnamese top legislator receives Ethiopian PM

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted the fine friendship and cooperation between the two countries, built on the foundation of solidarity, and mutual support and respect, stating that the Vietnamese NA always supports and wishes to contribute to the relationship.

14th National Party Congress's draft documents more revolutionary, action-oriented, highly feasible: PM
Politics-Diplomacy

14th National Party Congress's draft documents more revolutionary, action-oriented, highly feasible: PM

In the political repor, along with adding the learned lessons and forecasting the context and situation, it highlights the following viewpoints: ensuring development for stability, and stability for rapid and sustainable development of the country; promoting the comprehensive building and improvement of institutional frameworks for fast and sustainable development; addressing bottlenecks and obstacles in a timely and decisive manner; and unlocking all resources and mobilising all drivers of growth

Grand banquet held in honour of top Chinese leader
Politics-Diplomacy

Grand banquet held in honour of top Chinese leader

The host announced that both sides had held highly successful talks and reached broad consensus on key directions and measures to further strengthen Vietnam-China relations, paving the way for a more substantive relationship in a new era of prosperity and development for both nations.

The two leaders jointly witness the presentation of 45 cooperation documents across a wide range of sectors (Photo: VNA)
Politics-Diplomacy

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets China's top leader

PM Chinh expressed appreciation for Xi’s four visits to Vietnam in his capacity as Party General Secretary and President of China, believing that this historic milestone will provide strategic direction and fresh impetus to further foster ties between the two Parties and countries.