Bringing Spirit of Vietnamese Tet to Australia
	Promoting Vietnam-Australia Healthcare Cooperation through People-to-People Ties

President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son attended and delivered a directive speech at the Congress. Also present were Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird; representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Commission for Communication and Education, and the Central Commission for Mass Mobilization; businesses engaged in cooperation with Australia; and members of the Association.

People-to-People Diplomacy between Vietnam and Australia supports socio-economic development

According to the directions outlined in the report presented at the Congress, during the 2025-2030 term, the Association will focus on two main tasks. First, it will promote tourism connectivity, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and enhance interactions between localities and friendship organizations of both countries to strengthen mutual understanding and friendly sentiments. Second, it will leverage the role of people-to-people diplomacy to support Vietnam’s socio-economic development toward 2030, in line with Directive No. 15-CT/TW dated August 10, 2022. This contributes to the national objective of becoming a modern industrialized country with upper-middle income status by 2030.

President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son (front row, fourth from left) and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird (front row, fifth from right) congratulate the Executive Committee of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association, term III, 2025-2030. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The Congress elected a 40-member Executive Committee for the Association's third term and a 5-member Inspection Committee. Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council of the National Economics University, was elected President of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association.

In her congratulatory remarks, Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird affirmed that the Vietnam-Australia bilateral relationship is a genuine partnership built on mutual trust, shared values, and an increasingly close alignment of goals. Over the past 50 years and especially since the relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two countries have grown closer than ever.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird delivers a congratulatory speech to the Congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The Ambassador said that the uniqueness of the bilateral relationship lies not only in governmental cooperation but also in the deep-rooted people-to-people connections. Friendship associations serve as the “heart” of this connection, driving dialogue, mutual understanding, and meaningful exchange. With over 37,000 Vietnamese students currently studying in Australia, nearly 5,000 Australian students having come to Vietnam under the New Colombo Plan, and a network of over 160,000 Vietnamese alumni, education remains one of the most vital bridges in the bilateral relationship.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that the Association will continue to fulfill its role as a people-to-people bridge, contributing to the comprehensive and sustainable development of the bilateral relationship. The Australian Embassy in Vietnam will continue to accompany and closely cooperate with the Association in the coming time.

Four recommendations to maximize effectiveness of Vietnam-Australia People-to-people diplomacy in new era

Delivering his remarks at the Congress, VUFO President Phan Anh Son emphasized that the Congress takes place as Vietnam enters a new stage of development, placing higher demands on international integration and external affairs, including people-to-people diplomacy. At the same time, the Vietnam-Australia relations are advancing rapidly, especially following its upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024. This opens up numerous opportunities to strengthen cooperation across all channels, including the people-to-people one.

VUFO President Phan Anh Son outlines strategic directions to strengthen Vietnam-Australia people-to-people diplomacy. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Regarding future directions, President Phan Anh Son urged the newly elected Executive Committee of the Association to promptly convene a meeting to finalize Congress documentation and develop a comprehensive action plan for the term. He emphasized that the delegation of responsibilities within the Executive Committee must be clear, practical, and effective.

To enhance the effectiveness of the Vietnam-Australia people-to-people diplomacy channel in the new phase, VUFO President proposed four strategic orientations:

Enhance the engagement of the community of over 160,000 Vietnamese alumni in Australia in the Association’s activities, through the Club of Vietnamese who have studied and worked in Australia or through other appropriate mechanisms.

Foster connections with the Vietnamese intellectual and expert community in Australia, particularly via the Vietnam-Australia Scholars and Experts Association (VASEA), to serve as a knowledge bridge contributing to national development.

Coordinate with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam to organize discussion sessions featuring the Ambassador and counselors in charge of economic affairs, trade, and education, to share information on the bilateral relationship and Australia’s cooperation priorities. These activities aim to deepen understanding and strengthen connections between the Association’s members, Executive Committee, and the broader community of Vietnamese who have lived, studied, or worked in Australia.

Establish cooperative mechanisms between the Association and Vietnamese universities, especially those with strong partnerships with Australian educational institutions, to promote academic exchange and student mobility.

Additionally, he encouraged the Association to actively facilitate two-way business connections between Vietnamese and Australian enterprises, with particular attention to supporting Vietnamese companies investing in or exporting to the Australian market. He also called on the new Executive Committee to continue encouraging and recognizing collectives and individuals who have made significant contributions to people-to-people diplomacy in recent years.

VUFO President Phan Anh Son presents Certificates of Merit to a collective and two individuals from the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

On this occasion, VUFO President Phan Anh Son presented Certificates of Merit to the alumni club of Vietnamese who studied and worked in Australia and to two individuals: Prof. Dr. Sc. Tran Van Nhung, President of the Association’s second term, and Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the second term.

Football Tournament Celebrates Vietnam - Australia 15 years of Strategic Partnership The event celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam - Australia Strategic Partnership and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Hanoi's Education and Training ...

Vietnam - Australia Partner for Sustainable Agriculture and Workforce Development Leveraging Australia's strengths in human resources and technology, alongside Vietnam's growth potential, the two nations are working together to build a modern, efficient, and environmentally ...