Foreign Minister Penny Wong visits Vietnam: Momentum to successfully implement the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 58) on July 10. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

How does the Ambassador assess the significance of Foreign Minister Penny Wong's visit to Vietnam in the context of the two countries actively implementing the Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2024-2027?

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Foreign Minister Penny Wong will pay an official visit to Vietnam and co-chair the 7th annual Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM7) between the two countries, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Australia)

The visit took place just over two months after Senator Penny Wong was officially reappointed as Foreign Minister following the Labor Party's victory at the May 2025 General Election, demonstrating the Australian Government 's high priority and interest in strengthening and developing the cooperative relationship between Australia and Vietnam.

For us, welcoming the Australian Foreign Minister on an official visit contributes to implementing Resolution 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on “International integration in the new situation”, accordingly, implementing integration goes hand in hand with strengthening relations with comprehensive strategic partners (CSPs) such as Australia, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and promoting socio-economic development.

Currently, the Action Program to implement the Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership for the 2024-2027 period signed by the two countries' Foreign Ministers on October 18, 2024 during the visit to Australia by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son is being effectively coordinated by the two sides, with 96% of the total 180 action lines completed or on schedule.

In that context, the official visit of the Foreign Minister of your country and the 7th FMM Conference will contribute to adding momentum to the successful implementation of this Action Program, helping to bring practical benefits to both sides.

The 10th Strategic Dialogue on Foreign Affairs and Defense (2+2) between Vietnam and Australia on August 5, 2025. (Photo: Bao Chi)

Could you please tell us about the key contents of the 7th Vietnam-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM7) and the importance of the Conference in contributing to orienting the cooperative relationship between the two countries at both bilateral and multilateral levels?

I believe that FMM 7 will focus on discussing bilateral cooperation in six pillars of the Action Program: (i) political-defense-security-judicial cooperation; (ii) economic connectivity; (iii) people-to-people exchange; (iv) climate-environment-energy; (v) science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; (vi) cooperation at regional and international forums.

In particular, the two sides will likely have in-depth discussions on the planned exchange of high-level delegations through the Party, State, National Assembly and Government channels in the coming time and the implementation of cooperation agreements between the two countries since Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Australia in March 2024, with the extremely important achievement of upgrading the bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.

In the context of the current rapidly evolving and complex world situation, based on Australia's high interest and priority for the Southeast Asian region, it is expected that issues related to ASEAN cooperation, Mekong sub-regional cooperation and developments at some hotspots in the region will be discussed at the Conference.

Accordingly, FMM 7 will contribute to building an effective, vibrant and suitable high-level diplomatic schedule for both sides; and the results of those important high-level diplomatic activities will help provide specific directions for the continued effective implementation of the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries in the coming years, not only within the bilateral framework but also at regional and international forums.

In addition, the review and in-depth discussion at FMM 7 on the implementation of the Action Program for the 2024-2027 period as well as cooperation agreements are also important to ensure full and proper implementation of key cooperation areas between the two countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the occasion of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, February 26, 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Australia)

What is your opinion on the cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in implementing the content of the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?

Thanks to the close direction of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son and the Ministry's leaders, and the attention of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), it can be said that the cooperative relationship between the two countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs has become one of the most effective and practical relationships among the current cooperative relationships between our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of other countries in the world.

In addition to serving well the visits of high-ranking leaders, the Foreign Ministries of the two countries have been very proactive in coordinating and collaborating with ministries, branches and localities of each side to actively implement bilateral cooperation agreements, support and promote cooperation between localities, especially 15 pairs of partners - twinning between Vietnamese cities and provinces with Australian cities and states.

New cooperation initiatives and mechanisms such as the Senior Officials' Dialogue between the two Ministries have been quickly implemented, including the first dialogue that was successfully held in Australia on August 5, 2025. The two sides are also discussing and exploring the possibility of building a new cooperation model between Vietnam and Australia with a suitable partner in education and training and socio-economic development, for peace and development in the region.

It is also important to emphasize that the good cooperation between the two countries' foreign ministries has also contributed practically to maintaining the high and stable level of development aid that Australia has provided to us over the years (DFAT is the agency that advises and allocates ODA), Australia is one of the largest partners providing Covid-19 vaccines to us, as well as Australia's regular and timely support when Vietnam is hit by storms, floods, and natural disasters.

Regarding training, through the Vietnam-Australia Center, DFAT has supported the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing training programs on diplomatic interpretation, skills for female officials in diplomacy, skills in preparing speeches for senior leaders, and organizing seminars and dialogues on maritime issues. Australia has also actively supported and participated in our initiatives, including the ASEAN Future Forum 2025.

In summary, the cooperative relationship between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Australia is developing very well, contributing effectively to the implementation of cooperation contents in politics, economics, culture, education and training and people-to-people exchange in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Thank you very much Ambassador!