Georgina McCann – High Commissioner of Victoria, Australia in Southeast Asia
People-to-People Diplomacy Plays a Crucial Role
In assessing the relationship between Vietnam and Australia, Georgina McCann said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, Australia has always been a close and reliable friend of Vietnam, and the relationship has developed in both breadth and depth. Both countries established Comprehensive Partnership in 2009 and upgraded it to Strategic Partnership in 2018.
“We are pleased to see the achievements of the Vietnam-Australia enhanced economic cooperation strategy, especially in areas where both countries have a shared vision such as digital transformation, green energy, and education,” said Georgina McCann.
According to Georgina McCann, Vietnam has had an impressive development journey and has become a middle-income country as well as an influential partner in the regional and international arenas. With a fast-growing and dynamic economy, Vietnam has a demand for raw materials, such as coal, fabrics, ores, wheat, etc., as well as high-quality education and services from Australia. On the other hand, Australia has become an important market for Vietnam’s exports such as machinery and equipment, footwear, and textiles.
Having a shared vision of international trade, both countries are members of multilateral trade agreements such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). These frameworks will create favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.
People-to-people diplomacy plays a crucial role in the strong relationship between the two countries. “We continue to nurture this friendship through thousands of Vietnamese students studying in Australian schools, and the majority of them have chosen Victoria as their preferred state,” emphasized Georgina McCann. Many Vietnamese students choose partnership programs with universities in Victoria with partners in Vietnam, which has helped Vietnam train thousands of high-quality human resources.
In addition, the dynamic and growing Vietnamese community in Australia is also actively contributing to consolidating the bilateral relationship. According to statistics, Vietnamese is currently the fifth most spoken foreign language in Victoria.
Special Expectations for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s Visit to Melbourne
Regarding the upcoming ASEAN-Australia Summit, Georgina McCann said that the event is an impressive milestone and evidence of the strong friendship and cooperation between the two sides in maintaining and developing this special partnership.
“Victoria is proud to host this historic event and is delighted to welcome national leaders from ASEAN countries to Melbourne for the Summit. We are especially looking forward to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Melbourne and his bilateral engagement with Australia following the Summit. I believe this visit will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries,” expressed Georgina McCann.
According to Georgina McCann, the notable point of the ASEAN-Australia Summit is the priority given to discussions on the economy and trade. The CEO Forum is expected to attract many large corporations from the region. This will be an opportunity for businesses to discuss opportunities for cooperation and development, especially in the strong sectors of Victoria and Australia as a whole, such as sustainable development, digital transformation, technology, etc.
Australia aims to further promote cooperation with ASEAN countries in general and Vietnam in particular in these important and meaningful areas.
Victoria’s Important Role in the Australia-Vietnam Relationship
Victoria plays an important role in the trade and investment relationship between Australia and Vietnam. Vietnam is currently an important importer of Victoria. Many high-quality agricultural products from Victoria, such as wheat, fruits, seeds, and milk, are preferred by Vietnamese consumers.
Education plays a special role in the relationship between Victoria and Vietnamese localities. RMIT University has been operating in Vietnam for more than 20 years with campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, with over 7,000 students. Other universities from Victoria also have collaborative training programs with Vietnamese universities, such as Swinburne University and FPT University, or similar programs from Deakin University, Victoria University, La Trobe University, Monash University, and Melbourne University. Victoria remains the top choice for Vietnamese students pursuing international education programs, both for international students and domestic students.
“With Vietnam playing an increasingly important role in the global supply chain, Victoria hopes to become a hub for Vietnamese goods entering the Australian market as well as the international market,” expects Georgina McCann.
Expecting Investment from Vietnam
Regarding the investment and trade activities of Vietnamese businesses in Australia, Georgina McCann said that with the strong development and increasing innovation in Vietnam’s economy, Vietnamese companies have a need to expand beyond their territory and target new markets. Therefore, she is looking forward to an increase in investment from Vietnam into Australia in general and Victoria in particular.
“With the positive contribution of the Vietnamese community, Victoria has an internationally competitive economic environment, world-class education and research systems, and a multicultural social environment. We would like to welcome more Vietnamese investors, especially those with plans to establish research and development facilities or engage in innovative industries such as digital technology, agriculture-food, healthcare and life sciences, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing,” stated Georgina McCann.
HCM City: An Important Partner of Victoria
Talking about the friendship and cooperation agreement between Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City) and Victoria, Georgina McCann said that Victoria signed a memorandum of understanding with Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in May 2022 to enhance trade, investment, education, and technology cooperation. The agreement is proof of the importance of HCM City as an important partner of Victoria in Vietnam.
Over nearly 2 years, there have been many high-level exchange activities, most recently the visit of Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council (currently Vice Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee) Nguyen Van Dung to Victoria in November 2023 and Minister for Trade and Investment of Victoria Tim Pallas to HCM City in January 2023.
Both sides are currently strengthening training activities for officials, and many delegations from HCM City have been studying and exchanging experiences in Melbourne. “We are also nurturing broader cooperation activities this year and are looking forward to implementing upcoming plans,” hopes Georgina McCann.
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