Vietnam - Australia established diplomatic relations on February 26, 1973. Vietnam established Embassies in Canberra concurrently in Solomon, Nauru, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu; Consulates General in Sydney and Perth. Australia established Embassies in Hanoi, Consulates General in Ho Chi Minh City. The two countries established Comprehensive Partnership in 2009, Strengthened Comprehensive Partnership in 2015, Strategic Partnership in 2018 and upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024.
Vietnam - New Zealand established diplomatic relations on June 19, 1975, Comprehensive Partnership (September 2009); officially upgraded relations to Strategic Partnership in July 2020. The two countries officially upgraded relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Vietnam (February 2025); signed the Action Program to implement Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2025 - 2030 (November 2025). New Zealand always affirms its importance for relations with Vietnam; considers Vietnam an important factor in policy towards the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia regions.
Sharing with VNA before the State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Australia, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam emphasized that the visit is of particular historical significance, taking place in the context that the Vietnam - Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is entering a new stage of development with many opportunities and open space for cooperation.
The Ambassador revealed that the focus of the visit is to continue to consolidate and elevate political trust at the highest level, create new momentum for the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, and at the same time orient cooperation priorities in the coming period. The visit also creates opportunities for leaders of the two countries to exchange in-depth views on regional and international issues of common concern, strengthen coordination at multilateral mechanisms, thereby affirming common commitment to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and in the world.
It is the highest-level foreign affairs activity of the Party and State, and also the first State visit of the President of Vietnam to Australia, a visit of profound political, foreign and symbolic significance. This is not only a milestone opening a new stage of development of bilateral relations, but also demonstrates the strategic vision and determination of the leaders of the two countries in building Vietnam-Australia relations to be increasingly effective, on the basis of trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit" - Ambassador Pham Hung Tam noted.
The Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia expressed his belief that the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Australia will "create motivation for the two countries to effectively implement strategic cooperation orientations, transform political commitments into specific, long-term and substantial programs, bringing practical benefits to the people and business communities of the two countries".
Based on the expected working program and documents that may be signed during the visit, I believe that there are some areas of cooperation with potential to create breakthroughs in the coming time," the Ambassador said.
He revealed that first of all, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and digital economy - new growth drivers of bilateral relations. The second area is cooperation in building sustainable supply chains and improving the resilience of the two economies. In addition, the visit will create more momentum for traditional cooperation areas such as trade, investment, education - training and healthcare.
