Media Release: Edcuation
Date: 27 February 2008
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Minister for Education. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Minister for Social Inclusion. Deputy Prime Minister
Australia and Vietnam renew education partnership
Education and training ties between Australia and Vietnam will be strengthened following the signing today of a cooperative agreement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training, Professor Nguyen Thien Nhan.
The renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Education and Training between Australiaand Vietnamcoincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries by the Whitlam Government on this day in 1973.
Bilateral ties have grown strongly over the past 35 years, particularly in the fields of education and training. The Rudd Government looks forward to continuing the mutual benefits that accompany a close collaboration in education, training and research.
Australiais well placed to work with Vietnamin achieving the education reforms that will support Vietnam's continued robust economic growth. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Nhan is leading a senior delegation to investigate Australian initiatives in education and training.
Just as Australiais seeking to boost productivity through investment in education and training, so too is Vietnam.
The Rudd Government looks forward to building on our long-established cooperation, both through the exchange of ideas and the increased mobility of students, educators and researchers between our countries.
Education and training related services accounted for more than 70 per cent of Australia's service exports to Vietnamin 2006/07 and the number of Vietnamese students enrolled in Australian education institutions grew by more than 44 per cent from 2006 to 2007.
Media Contact:
Kimberley Gardiner +61 434 159 842