Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his wife and a high-rankingdelegation of Vietnam arrived back Hanoi on March 12 morning, concluding a tripfor the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit commemorating the 50th anniversary ofdialogue relations, and official visits to Australia and New Zealand from March5-11.

At the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit, leaders highlighted the importance andvalue of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, set out amajor orientation to promote comprehensive cooperation in all fields in thecoming time.

They adopted the Melbourne Declaration - A Partnership for the Future and ASEAN-AustraliaLeaders' Vision Statement - Partners for Peace and Prosperity", whichserve as a basis for implementing the ASEAN-Australia comprehensive strategicpartnership in the coming time.

At the sessions of the Special Summit, PMChinh underlined the necessity to create breakthroughs and promote mutualcommitments to further strengthen the ASEAN – Australia relations tocommemorate the 50th anniversary.

Notably, he had bilateral meetings withheads of participating delegations, including leaders of ASEAN countries,Timor Leste, Australia and New Zealand, and the Secretary General of ASEAN, focusingdiscussions to tighten friendship and promote bilateral cooperation.
 
The Prime Minister's official visits to Australia and New Zealand were asuccess in all aspects and an important milestone in the relationship betweenVietnam and the two countries. In particular, Vietnam and Australia upgradedtheir relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and Vietnam and NewZealand agreed to promote bilateral relations to a new height.

Also during the visits, the two sides signed nearly 30 cooperation documents inthe fields of education, training, innovation, goods and services, aviation, energy,mining, trade, investment, finance, banking, agriculture, environment, labourand employment, justice, and defence./.