Vietnam, Australia celebrate strong ties on National Day

In his remarks, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam highlighted Vietnam's remarkable achievements, saying the country has emerged as one of the world's top 10 fastest-growing economies, with total trade exceeding 680 billion USD last year, and attracting an average of 55 billion USD in foreign investment over the past years.

Vietnam has established strategic partnership or higher-level relations with 30 countries, including all the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Tam said.

Tam also stressed the elevation of the Vietnam-Australia relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March. With over 30,000 Vietnamese students in Australia and nearly 300,000 Australian tourists visiting the Southeast Asian nation in the first seven months of this year, the people-to-people interaction is thriving, he said.

Bilateral trade is robust, expected to reach 20 billion USD this year, with both countries ranking among each other's top 10 trading partners.

Cooperation extends to global and regional forums, encompassing national defence-security, sci-tech, and people-to-people exchange, among other fields, the diplomat said.

Michelle Chan, Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, noted that the bilateral relationship is one of Australia's most important, diverse and dynamic relations, reflecting the depth of the strategic trust and shared ambition for the future.

Looking ahead, Chan expressed hope for continued close cooperation on issues crucial to both countries and the region, including collaboration with ASEAN, support for regional stability, and the consolidation of rules and norms that underpin common security and prosperity.

Ambassador Tam, along with officials, raised their glasses to toast Vietnam's National Day and the friendship between the two countries. They also enjoyed dishes rich in Vietnamese flavour.