The Government of Australia considers Vietnam as one of its important partners in the region and pledges to develop long-term cooperation with the southeast Asian country.
Visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith made the statement during his talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Hanoi on Tuesday, according to Vietnam News Agency.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the sound developments in their friendship and all-round cooperation as Vietnam and Australia celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
They noted that since the beginning of the year, the two nations exchanged many high-level visits, including those to Australia by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, and Deputy PMs Nguyen Thien Nhan and Truong Vinh Trong, and a trip to Vietnam by Queensland State's Minister of Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel.
Australia is now Vietnam 's 7th biggest trade partner and its 4th largest export market, with two-way trade value reaching 4.56 billion US dollars last year. By the end of May 2008, Australia had invested 1.01 billion US dollars in 174 projects in Vietnam.
Deputy PM Khiem affirmed that Vietnam treasures cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, as well as within the framework of the East Asia Summit(EAS).
Vietnam supports Australia's efforts to promote peace, stability and development in Asia and the Pacific, he added.
During the talks, the two sides also discussed measures to speed up negotiations on the ASEAN- Australia - New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANFTA).
Source:Xinhua
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