I am pleased to announce that Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Phan Van
Khai, will visit Australia from 31 March to 3 April. It will be his
first visit to Australia as Prime Minister.
Mr Khai's visit is an opportunity to discuss issues of common
interest to our countries. We are both members of APEC. We both have
an interest in the earliest recovery of Asian economies and, for that
reason, in economic reform and improved financial sector management
in our region. Vietnam is now a member of ASEAN and as such contributes
to the security and stability of our region.
Australia's economic ties with Vietnam have steadily strengthened.
Some of Australia's largest and most successful corporations
have significant investments in Vietnam. In 1998 our exports to Vietnam
grew to A$386 million, an increase of more than 60 per cent. Two-way
trade between Australia and Vietnam last year exceeded A$1 billion
for the first time.
People-to-people links between Australia and Vietnam are strong. The
Vietnamese-Australian community numbers about 140,000 people. They
have made an outstanding contribution to our growth as a nation culturally
and economically. There are now 4,000 Vietnamese students in Australia
more than Vietnam has in any other country.
I look forward to Mr Khai's visit as an opportunity for Australia
and Vietnam to explore new areas for growth and cooperation between
us.