Today (November 23), Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thanh met with Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski.
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thanh and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski agreed to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in the field of transportation in the coming time, especially in digital transformation and climate change adaptation.
At the meeting, Ambassador Goledzinowski said that the two countries are currently cooperating closely in the areas of aviation, railways, and inland waterways. In particular, the Aus4Transport technical assistance program of the Australian Government for Vietnam is being implemented on schedule, with quality and effectiveness, and is expected to be completed in 2024.
After this program, the Australian Government is designing the Vietnam-Australia Partnership Program for Economic Growth (Aus4Growth), which will support Vietnam in the field of transportation.
Australia can support Vietnam in the field of digital transformation, including the digitization of port services. In addition, the demand for investment in transportation infrastructure projects in Vietnam is very large, requiring mobilization of capital from multiple sources, including capital from the Australian Government and private capital. We are very willing to support Vietnam in accessing these sources of capital,” said Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski.
Thanking Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski, Minister Nguyen Van Thanh emphasized the support and assistance of the Australian Government for the development of Vietnam’s transportation. Typically, the Mỹ Thuận Bridge and Cao Lãnh Bridge, which were funded by Australia, have contributed to improving connectivity and creating favorable conditions for the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region. The Aus4Transport program with a budget of AUD 30 million has supported project development, supported improving feasibility studies, technical designs, and bidding documents carried out by the Ministry of Transport, and also strengthened the management capacity of the transportation sector.
Regarding the potential for cooperation in the coming time, the Minister said that Vietnam is currently focusing its budget on investing in the development of transportation infrastructure. In the road sector, the target is to complete 3,000 kilometers of expressways by 2025 and 5,000 kilometers by 2030. In the railway sector, it will focus on investment from now until 2030, along with the North-South high-speed railway project over 1,500 kilometers long, and investment in railway lines connecting ports, airports, border gates, economic centers, such as Hai Phong - Hanoi - Lao Cai, Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh (Cambodia)...
The Cao Lãnh Bridge, funded by Australia without charge, has facilitated the economic development of the region since it was put into operation.
Regarding maritime, priority will be given to the synchronous and modern investment of international gateway seaports, focusing on investment to ensure the seamless connectivity between seaports with the national transportation network and regional logistics hubs. In the field of inland waterways, focus on investment in dredging channels and raising bridge clearances; aim to take advantage of the advantages of topography, seaports and rivers to promote inland waterway cargo transportation, reduce emissions. With aviation, the Minister said that Vietnam currently has 22 airports in operation, including 9 international airports. In the coming time, priority will be given to the synchronous upgrade and modernization of existing international airports; invest in medium and small airports in the provinces, need to call for private investment.
In order to promote transportation cooperation between the two countries, the Minister proposed that Australia continue to support and cooperate in the following areas: Sustainable and climate change adaptation transportation infrastructure development; digital transformation; green energy transition, reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions... Specifically for cooperation in the field of aviation, the Minister proposed that Australia complete internal procedures to soon sign the Protocol to amend and supplement the Vietnam-Australia Air Services Agreement in 2024. In addition, the two sides actively exchange and negotiate to increase the frequency of flights between the two countries in the time to come compared to the current frequency of 42 flights/week. "We hope that the two sides will continue to strengthen exchanges and close coordination to promote transportation cooperation between the two countries in the coming time," Minister Nguyen Van Thang said.
