Visit to Vietnam by the President of Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate, Senator the Honourable Scott Ryan, is paying an official visit to Vietnam from 20-23 January 2019 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairwoman Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
In Hanoi, Senator Ryan has hold bilateral talks with Madam Ngan to discuss issues such as: strengthening parliamentary cooperation, reviewing Australian support for economic development in Vietnam, improving people-to-people links between Australia and Vietnam and the potential for strengthened regional cooperation. The bilateral visit reflects a strong history of parliamentary engagement between Australia and Vietnam, and follows Madam Ngan’s visit to Australia in November 2017 and the visit of the Speaker of Australian House of Representatives the Hon Tony Smith MP to Vietnam in July 2018.
In the course of his visit, Senator Ryan will also meet the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President HE Mr Nguyen Phu Trong, the Prime Minister of Vietnam HE Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Chair of the Vietnam-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group Mr Nguyen Hanh Phuc.
In addition to his official meetings, Senator Ryan will take the opportunity of his official visit to meet with Australian businesses, Australian New Colombo Plan students and Australian volunteers in Hanoi. He will visit the Hanoi KOTO Training Centre, a social enterprise founded by Australian Jimmy Pham training at-risk youth in hospitality skills.
Following the 45th anniversary of relations and upgrading of relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2018, Senator Ryan’s visit provides an opportunity to further strengthen the positive and diverse bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam.