Harry Jenkins, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Monday, officially visited Viet Nam at the invitation of the National Assembly (NA) Chairman, Nguyen Phu Trong.

A welcoming ceremony was held in Hanoi January 8.

Australia will soon recognize Viet Nam as a market-oriented economy to further strengthen the ties with Australia, Mr Jenkins said at the ceremony.

At the ceremony, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong reaffirmed the Vietnamese government and people will try to further strengthen the relationship with Australia. Viet Nam recognizes Australia as an important partner and wishes to enhance its friendly relationship and cooperation with Australia across bilateral and multilateral fields, he said.

He called upon Australia to continue it investments: To develop infrastructure, education, culture, human resource training, science and technology, as well as wishing Australia to continue providing official development assistance (ODA) to Viet Nam.

The National Assembly of Viet Nam has continuously promoted activities aimed at create a concrete cooperation agreement between the two countries. Vietnam wants to continue developing an economy which ensures social security and eliminates hunger and reduces poverty in the next few years, Mr. Trong said.

Mr. Jenkins reaffirmed that Australia highly appreciates Vietnam’s strenuous efforts during a period of global economic crisis, and that Vietnam’s policies for economic development, combined with social security, is sound leadership.

Australia is willing to cooperate and help Viet Nam in developing economic tasks. Australia will also create favorable conditions for Vietnamese expatriates in Australia and help them to live stable lives, he added.

On international and regional issues, the two leaders agreed to continue promoting cooperation at regional and international forums, including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung warmly welcomed Mr. Jenkins and his delegation in Hanoi.

The government leader valued the Speaker’s visit and expressed his pleasure at recent developments in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Dung said.

Australia is the fourth-largest export market for Viet Nam, with bi-lateral trade reaching $6 billion in 2008. The country is also implementing numerous large-scale projects in Vietnam.

However, bi-lateral trade between the two countries can be further promoted, PM Dung added.

At the meeting, PM Dung reaffirmed that the Vietnamese government has been carrying out measures to ensure the effective implementation of previous agreements from his visit to Australia last year.

PM Dung suggested that Australia would soon recognize Vietnam as a market-oriented economy, as well as allowing Vietnamese citizens to enjoy visa regulations similar to those offered by several other countries.

He also hopes that two sides would soon reach a cooperation agreement with regards to labor.

The Vietnamese government will create good conditions for Australian investors to expand and develop investments in Vietnam, Mr. Dung expressed.

Mr. Jenkins welcomed the PM’s suggestions. He said Australia will consider concerned parties and recognize Vietnam as a market-oriented economy to further strengthen the relationship with Australia.

He added that the Australian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship will visit Vietnam in the next few weeks to discuss specific agreements regarding the implementation of visa regulations for Vietnamese citizens and labor cooperation between the two countries. (Sai Gon GP)