Australia-Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue 2024

[Acknowledgements below]

I start by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people, and pay my respect to Elders, past and present.

This is the second time this week I've been invited to speak about the Australia-Vietnam relationship.

On Monday I addressed a delegation of Vice Ministers from Vietnam at the Melbourne Law School.

They came to Melbourne on a study mission to explore how Australia and Vietnam can better cooperate under each pillar of our new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Particularly our new pillars of climate change and digital transformation.

It was great to meet them. They were an impressive delegation of senior, experienced individuals.

I can't help but think that, in the next decade or so, several of you will be the Vice Ministers in that delegation, and one of the Australians will be up here where I'm standing.

Last week I also spoke at the Australia-India Youth Dialogue.

I participated in that dialogue in 2016.

My roommate for that dialogue, Harsh Sanghavi, is now the Minister of the State of Gujarat.

And I'm fortunate enough to serve as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs.

We've enjoyed following each other's careers.

That is just one of many examples of the importance of these youth dialogues, of their ability to identify passionate, young individuals, and to connect them with each other.

So, I'm a big advocate of these youth dialogues.

They are a place where you make really important, lasting connections with friends and colleagues who are doing, and will go on to do, some seriously impressive things.

It's also great for our bilateral relationship because people-to-people links are at the heart of a rich and dynamic bilateral relationship.

Your generation is going to face its fair share of global challenges, and it's going to take good, solid diplomatic skills if you're to find solutions.

There are major changes reshaping the world.

Climate change.

Technological innovation and disruption.

Geostrategic competition.

Your generation will determine the dynamics of these changes.

The challenges these changes throw up can't be solved by one country alone.

They can only be tackled through international cooperation.

Australia recognises the vital importance of cooperation in our region.

Australia wants a region that is prosperous, peaceful and secure.

A region where we act in accordance to agreed rules, norms, and international law, where sovereignty is respected and where countries are free to make their own choices.

A region where no country dominates, and no country is dominated.

The security and the prosperity of our nations, and of our region, will depend on cooperation - between institutions, between companies, between governments, and between you: young Vietnamese and Australian leaders.

We know that economic prosperity and peace and security go hand-in-hand.

Vietnam is currently riding a demographic boom, with the highest proportion of working-age members in its recent history.

We've seen that play out in the unprecedented growth that Vietnam has experienced.

Australia is pleased to work with Vietnam to realise its bold economic ambitions.

And together seizing the opportunities that come with economic cooperation.

That's why we've got an Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy in place.

That's why the Government is implementing recommendations of Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

For example, we've recently established an investment deal team hub in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as an office in Hanoi, to identify and support Australian potential investors to pursue new opportunities.

We've opened a technology 'landing pad' in Ho Chi Minh City to support Australian start-ups looking to introduce their product to the Vietnamese market by enabling them to raise brand-profile, develop market entry plans, connect with opportunities, customers, partners and funding, and expand and grow sales internationally.

And we've appointed Louise Adams, the COO of Aurecon, the global engineering firm, as the Australian Business Champion for Vietnam, to help unlock the commercial potential that exists between Australia and Vietnam.

Some of you might know Aurecon, but I think all of you definitely know the building Aurecon helped build.

The second tallest building in Southeast Asia, the tallest in Vietnam…

…the skyscraper, Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City.

That's a great symbol of the things that we can achieve when we work together.

When you bring some of the best engineers in the region to work on one of the most ambitious buildings in the region.

I'm excited to see what your own 'Landmark 81' achievements will be in your careers.

Irrespective of what they are, I know that you are already taking important steps towards them by participating in todays' dialogue.

And I'm confident the connections you make at this dialogue can help you get there.

Thank you.

 

[Acknowledgements List]

• Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece
• Caroline Hartnett, Director, Study Melbourne
• Mr Nghiem Xuan Hoa, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Vietnam