​Vietnamese premier visits Australia, attends ASEAN special summit

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has arrived in Australia for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to attend a summit on the ASEAN-Australia relationship.

PM Phuc, along with his wife and a delegation of high-ranking officials, touched down in Canberra at 3:10 pm on Wednesday (local time), commencing his state visit to Australia from March 14 to 18, at the invitation of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

He will also participate in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on March 17 and 18.

ASEAN is short for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – a political and economic organization whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

During the first day of his visit, Prime Minister Phuc visited Australian National University (ANU), Australia's top university and among the top 20 universities in the world.

Addressing the school’s leaders, PM Phuc emphasized the fruitful relationship between the two countries, particularly in regard to education and training. 

​PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc poses for a group photo during his visit to Australian National University. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

About 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in Australia, the highest number of Vietnamese students pursuing their education in a foreign country, the premier said.

Aside from cooperation in trade, investment, and other areas, the affiliation in education-training should be strengthened after the two countries elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. 

Later that same day, PM Phuc visited the Embassy of Vietnam and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Australia. 

He also witnessed the establishment of the 40-member Vietnamese Scientists' Club in Canberra.

An official welcome ceremony was held for the Vietnamese head of government on Thursday morning.

PM Phuc and PM Turnbull are scheduled to sit down for a talk and attend the signing of various agreements throughout the day on Thursday.

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