The Australia Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) held its 2026 annual conference in Sydney, New South Wales, on October 15. Government representatives, businesspeople and academics from both countries discussed how to deepen bilateral cooperation and turn political ties into practical programmes.
The conference took place as the Vietnam Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership gained fresh momentum after General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam visited Australia in August. Vietnam is also preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2027.
Discussions covered diplomacy, trade and investment, digital transformation, human resource development, regional cooperation and Vietnam's role as APEC host. Participants also considered how stronger political ties could produce practical benefits for businesses and people in both countries.
AVPI Advisory Board Chair Le Thu Huong said Australia could engage more deeply in Vietnam's economic development and reform. She said Vietnam's efforts to improve its investment environment, develop an international financial centre and prepare for APEC 2027 were creating new opportunities for Australian investors and businesses.
RMIT University Chancellor Peggy O'Neal, recently appointed by the Australian federal government as its new Business Champion for Vietnam, said bilateral ties had grown over decades through education, migration, trade and investment. She added that trade and investment had yet to reach their full potential.
O'Neal said Australian businesses needed a better understanding of opportunities in Vietnam, while Vietnamese firms should see Australia as both a market and a source of capital, education, technology and expertise. She called for both sides to move from goodwill to concrete roadmaps, strengthen business connections and address barriers facing companies.
O'Neal identified three priorities: promoting two-way investment, expanding cooperation linked to APEC 2027 and making better use of people-to-people connections. She said Vietnam needed capital, skills, technology, infrastructure and energy transition expertise, areas where Australia could provide support.
New South Wales Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said Vietnam was becoming an increasingly important partner for Australia and the state. He said To Lam's visit had created momentum and opened opportunities in trade, investment, education, science, technology and innovation.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird highlighted three joint statements issued during the visit. They covered deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthening economic resilience, and promoting cooperation in science, technology and innovation. She said economic resilience did not mean isolation, but should be built on open trade, diversified partnerships and effective use of free trade agreements.
Vietnamese Consul General in Sydney Nguyen Thanh Tung said diplomatic missions could help connect businesses, universities, research institutes and local partners. He identified trade and investment diversification, energy and the green transition, science and technology, and human resource development as priorities.
Looking towards APEC 2027, Craig Emerson, Executive Chair of the Australian APEC Study Centre, said Vietnam and Australia should use the forum to advance specific cooperation initiatives amid challenges facing global trade.
Delegates also highlighted digital transformation, skills development, secure data flows and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. They said trust, cultural understanding and long-term commitment remained essential to successful business partnerships.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
