Visit of Speaker of the Australian Parliament to Vietnam 22-24 May 2013

The Speaker of the Australian Parliament, Ms Anna Burke MP, will pay an official visit to Vietnam from 22 to 24 May 2013 at the invitation of the Chairman of the National Assembly, HE Dr Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Her visit is central to commemorations marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam and forms part of high-level exchanges under the Comprehensive Partnership signed in September 2009.

Australian Ambassador Hugh Borrowman said, “the Speaker of the Australian Parliament is Australia’s most senior visitor to Vietnam since the Governor-General paid a State Visit here in May 2011. Her visit is a further demonstration of the value Australia places in its developing partnership with Vietnam.”

In Hanoi, Ms Burke and Dr Hung will discuss ways to strengthen parliamentary ties and sign a memorandum of understanding providing a framework for closer and more comprehensive links and exchanges between the two legislatures.

The Speaker will also meet the State President, HE Mr Truong Tan Sang, the Prime Minister, HE Mr Nguyen Tan Dung, the President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, Madam Nguyen thi Thanh Hoa and the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, HE Mr Le Hong Quan.

In addition to the high-level meetings, the Speaker will visit projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City supported by Australia’s development cooperation program in Vietnam.