30-year link with Vietnam marked

26feb03
AUSTRALIA and Vietnam have marked 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On February 26, 1973, the then Whitlam government announced that Australia and the then Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, had agreed to establish diplomatic relations.

The announcement marked a reconciliation between the two countries after Australian involvement in the Vietnam conflict, which ended when the last handful of military advisers left in December 1972.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said since then Australia's relationship with Vietnam had grown and diversified, with trade between the two countries now worth more than $2.3 billion.

Prime Minister John Howard will travel to Vietnam on an official visit in the first half of this year.

In recent years, relations have expanded into new areas such as law enforcement and defence co-operation," Mr Downer said.

"Australian businesses are well represented in Vietnam in construction and building supplies, banking, accounting, law, brewing, manufacturing, dairy products and education and training."

Mr Downer said the two countries had also held regular talks on regional security and human rights.

Last year, Vietnamese diplomats in Australia helped soothe anger in the region caused by Mr Howard's threat to use pre-emptive strikes to destroy regional terror cells.

Mr Downer said Vietnam was Australia's third-largest aid recipient, while people-to-people links were also strong.

"Some 4,500 Vietnamese students study in Australia each year, making education our biggest export earner with Vietnam," he said.

To help mark celebrations, Australia's local Vietnamese community will hold a party tonight in Sydney, while a Vietnamese government dance group will perform in Sydney and Canberra.


Sempers,

Roger