Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Australia-Vietnam Relations
March 4, 2024

We request your assessment of Australia’s relations with Vietnam and ASEAN and
the role Australia expects Vietnam to play.
‘Q1. What areas can Vietnam support Australia when it engages more with ASEAN?
Vietnam has a more and more important voice in ASEAN, what areas does Australia
expect Vietnam to play a role in ASEAN - Australia ties?
ANSWER: Australia has two broad objectives in which it seeks Vietnam’s support to
engage with ASEAN as a comprehensive strategic partner.
The first Australian objective is to support ASEAN-centrality by practical measures to
advance the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and its four pillars – maritime
cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development and economic cooperation.
The second Australian objective is outlined in its South East Asia Economic Strategy to
2040 and that is to expand Australian business ties to raise two-way trade and
investment in ASEAN countries. Australia seeks to work with Vietnam to achieve these
goals through the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA),
Regional Comprehensive Economic Policy (RCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive
Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Q2. There is a view that Australia wants to promote relations with mainland Southeast
Asian countries. What is your assessment of this view? What are the areas that
Australia will promote in its relations with these mainland countries? What is
Vietnam's role?
ANSWER: That statement is outdated. Australia was ASEAN’s first dialogue partner in
1974 and a founding member of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1995. More particularly,
Australia and ASEAN became comprehensive strategic partners in 2021. Australia is
and will continue to promote comprehensive cooperation with all Southeast Asian
countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines and not just mainland states.
Vietnam and Australia are already strategic partners and will raise relations to a
comprehensive strategic partnership. Australia will want to work with Vietnam to
promote sustainable development of the Lower Mekong and to work with Vietnam to
implement several priority initiatives such as the Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative to
support transition to a green economy; and Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) to
assist eight ASEAN members address their infrastructure investment needs.
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Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Australia-Vietnam Relations,” Thayer

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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.