Australia and Vietnam signed a set of defence, border and economic agreements in Canberra on Tuesday, on the third day of a four day visit by To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam.
It was the first meeting between To Lam and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The two governments issued a joint statement on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership they established in March 2024, with separate statements on economic resilience and on science, research and innovation.
On defence, the two defence ministers agreed an updated Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation. It covers maritime security and disaster relief, shared search and rescue expertise, and joint training. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who holds the defence portfolio, called Vietnam "an important defence partner for Australia".
Border agencies on both sides signed memoranda of understanding on transnational crime, border protection and maritime cooperation. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were among the ministers attached to the day's announcements. The statements released by the Prime Minister's office do not set out what information those border arrangements allow each agency to hold or pass to the other.
The economic package runs wider. Trade ministers signed a Digital Economy Cooperation Agreement covering e-commerce and digital health and banking services. A memorandum of understanding on vocational education and training supports Australian providers operating in Vietnam, and RMIT University received an investment licence to establish a campus in Hanoi.
Most of the education measures run one way. They give Australian institutions approval to operate inside Vietnam, under licences the Vietnamese government issues. What Australia took home was narrower and more specific: Vietnam restored market access for Australian game meat, including kangaroo, and the two sides agreed to work together on biosecurity, food safety and aquaculture.
Aviation moved the day before. Vietjet said it will fly Ho Chi Minh City to Western Sydney International from January 2027, twice a week, rising to three times a week from March.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade put two way trade with Vietnam at A$25.7 billion in 2022, A$23.3 billion of it in goods and A$2.4 billion in services. Neither government published an updated figure alongside this week's statements.
Trade Minister Don Farrell, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, Education Minister Jason Clare and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King were named across the outcomes, which is a measure of how much of the relationship now sits outside foreign affairs and defence.
To Lam's visit runs to Wednesday. The two governments also agreed to work towards net zero emissions and to cooperate on green transition and climate adaptation, without publishing targets, timelines or funding attached to that commitment.
