According to VNA, at exactly 8:55 PM on August 9 (local time), General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, beginning a state visit to Australia (from August 9-12, 2026) at the invitation of Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn.
Welcoming General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation at the airport, on the Australian side were: Lieutenant Colonel Air Force Andrew Burke, honorary officer, representative of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia; Colonel Michael Miller, Attorney General of the Governor's Office, Representative of the Governor of New South Wales; Minister of Industry and Innovation, Minister of Science Tim Ayres; Deputy Prime Minister of New South Wales Prue Car; Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird; leaders of the Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet.
On the Vietnamese side were Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam; Vietnamese Consul General in Sydney Nguyen Thanh Tung; Vietnamese Consul General in Perth Pham Hai Anh; officials and staff of Vietnamese representative agencies in Australia.
Vietnam and Australia officially established diplomatic relations on February 26, 1973. Since then, the two countries have built a strong and sustainable relationship with diverse and increasing interests.
Currently, Vietnam is considered one of Australia's most important bilateral partners. The two countries maintain regular high-level contacts and many bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and closely coordinate at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and the United Nations.
This is a particularly meaningful visit, the first time General Secretary and President To Lam has visited Australia in his new position, and also the first visit of key Vietnamese leaders since the two countries upgraded relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (March 2024).
The visit affirms Vietnam's importance to an important partner in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and its determination to bring the new relationship framework into depth, substance, and effectiveness.
