The ceremony were attended, on the Vietnamese side, by Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Van, VUFO’s Vice President; Mr. Tran Van Nhung, VAFA’s Chairman; representatives of Australia Club and members of VAFA.
The Australia side saw the presence of Mr. Hugh Borrowman, Ambassador of Australia to Vietnam; Mr. Kim Sampson, AVFS’Chairman; staffs of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.
Speaking the ceremony, Mr. Kim Sampson said the signing of the MoU formalises the relationship between the 2 organisations in the promotion of friendship and cooperation ties between the two peoples.
“We within AVFS have been greatly disturbed by recent events in the South China Sea. China’s decision to install a drilling rig within Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone was highly provocative, and has the effect of undermining peace and stability in the region”, said he.
He assured that in the spirit of the MoU, AVFS will write to the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister to seek her involvement in bringing about a peaceful end to the current tense situation in the East Sea.
The MoU specifies that VAFA and the AVFS desire to enhance friendly relations between the two organisations, appreciae the importance of cultivating the ties between the two people and believe that such cooperation would benefit both organisations, peoples and countries.
The two sides agreed on regularly promoting educational and cultural exchanges, strengthening people to people diplomacy, building closer ties between the two countries’ non-government organizations, broadening mutual understanding of Vietnamese and Australian language and culture, promoteing mutually beneficial trade relations, coordinating and cooperating in humanitarian relief and supports for victims of Agent Orange, natural calamities, etc.
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