Vietnam-Australia issue joint statement

On the occasion of Australia Prime Minister Morrison's first official visit to Vietnam, the two prime ministers agreed to develop an Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy with the aim of becoming each others' top ten trade partners and doubling investment.

Australia will continue to support Vietnam's international security contributions, including the Australian Defence Force providing on-going specialist peacekeeping training and strategic airlift support for Vietnam's next peacekeeping deployment.

The two countries will establish a Vietnam-Australia Centre at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. The Australian guest expressed serious concerns about developments in the East Sea.

The two Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the freedom of navigation and overflight and called for any Codes of Conduct between ASEAN and China to be fully consistent with international law, in particular, the UNCLOS, without prejudice to the interests of a third party under international law.