The ASEAN-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Philippines. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Over more than five decades of partnership, Vietnam and Australia have achieved remarkable progress across politics, trade, education, and science and technology. The strong bilateral relationship has provided a solid foundation for Vietnam to play a trusted bridging role between Australia and ASEAN.

Australia established dialogue relations with ASEAN in 1974. The partnership was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2014 and further upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021. Australia has consistently supported ASEAN's unity, centrality and cohesion, while actively contributing to ASEAN Community-building efforts and cooperation in the Mekong subregion.

At a recent meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Australian Minister for International Development, Minister for Small Business and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly, the two sides agreed to maintain close coordination within ASEAN, the Mekong cooperation framework and other regional mechanisms, contributing to the substantive, effective and sustainable development of the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

New Zealand, another important partner in the Pacific, has likewise cultivated a traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation with Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975.

As the country coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand relations for the 2024-2027 term, Vietnam has played an important role in promoting dialogue, strengthening mutual trust, aligning cooperation priorities and deepening bilateral engagement. In 2025, which marked the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand relations, Vietnam worked closely with fellow ASEAN member states to formulate and adopt the 2026-2030 Plan of Action, providing strategic direction for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming years.

During a recent meeting on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters expressed his appreciation for Vietnam's close coordination in advancing the upgrade of ASEAN-New Zealand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and in shaping cooperation priorities for the next phase.

Two-way trade between ASEAN and New Zealand continued its positive momentum, reaching US$13.3 billion in 2025, while cooperation in education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges remained vibrant. ASEAN welcomed an estimated more than 630,000 visitors from New Zealand during the year.

With its proactive, responsible and forward-looking approach, Vietnam has continued to strengthen ASEAN's connections with its partners while further deepening its longstanding friendship and bilateral ties with both Australia and New Zealand.

Pacific Partnership 2016 (PP16) kicked off in Da Nang Pacific Partnership 2016 (PP16) kicked off in Da Nang, Vietnam this morning, July 15, for the third consecutive year, with the arrival of the U.S. hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and the Japanese Navy ship JSDS Shimokita (LST-4002).

US-led Pacific Partnership 2022 Wraps Up in Phu Yen The Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22) concluded on July 3 on USNS Mercy, a hospital ship of the US Military Sealift Command anchored at Vung Ro Port in Dong Hoa town, the central province of Phu Yen.