Anthony Albanese will meet key leaders to discuss shared interests including China’s position in the region as he continues a diplomatic visit to Vietnam.
Mr Albanese will sit down with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well as the Communist Party general secretary, the president and the chairman of the national assembly.
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The Australian leader said with China bordering Vietnam to the north, the issue of their relationship and China’s actions internationally would no doubt be discussed.
Last week, Vietnam accused a Chinese survey vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty, amid a territorial dispute involving the South China Sea.
“(Australia) and Vietnam share a view on the South China Sea, and that the Convention on the Law of the Sea needs to be upheld and maintained,” Mr Albanese told media in Hanoi on Saturday.
Defence Minister Richard Marles was scheduled to meet with Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu on Saturday afternoon, which Mr Albanese described as positive.
“From dialogue and engagement comes understanding,” he said.
“And we, of course, have said that we want to co-operate with China wherever we can.”
Talks in Vietnam are also expected to encompass clean energy technology, tourism, education and transnational crime-fighting.
There will also be discussions on improving Vietnamese workers’ access to jobs in Australia.
Australia is home to about 350,000 people of Vietnamese background.
Asked if Australia could play an intermediary role in negotiations between China and the United States, Mr Albanese said it was in Australia’s interest to engage.
“The idea that we can be isolated from the world because we’re an island continent has been disproved time and time again,” he said.
“Whether it’s a global pandemic, a potential cyber event, or indeed the conflict that we see of Russia in Ukraine (which) has had a direct impact on Australians, because of the global inflation that it’s caused.
“I think we are a trusted nation.
“We’re a nation that is straightforward – and when I deal with my international counterparts, I give straight-talking,” he said.
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