Making security and law enforcement cooperation a pillar of Viet Nam–Australia relations

At the meeting, Minister Luong Tam Quang recalled the successful first State visit to Australia by General Secretary and State President To Lam in August 2026, which had brought numerous positive outcomes.

During the visit, Minister Luong Tam Quang and Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke successfully co-chaired the second Viet Nam–Australia Ministerial Security Dialogue, at which the two sides had drafted major directions for future cooperation.

Accordingly, the two sides agreed to actively share information and assessments of strategic issues related to their respective national security and interests; promote cooperation in border security and cybersecurity; strengthen the fight against transnational and organized crime involving the two countries; and enhance their national response capabilities.

Against the backdrop of complex and unpredictable regional and global developments, Minister Luong Tam Quang emphasized that the Ministry of Public Security always regards Australia as an important partner in security and law enforcement cooperation, transnational crime prevention and response to non-traditional security challenges.

The host proposed that the two sides effectively implement the outcomes of General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to Australia and the commitments set out in the Joint Statement on the Outcomes of the second Viet Nam–Australia Ministerial Security Dialogue, while continuing to actively contribute to regional peace and security.

Minister Luong Tam Quang asked Australia to continue supporting Viet Nam’s role at multilateral forums, particularly as the host of APEC 2027, and to strengthen assistance for Viet Nam in security, participation in peacekeeping operations and English-language training for officers and staff of the Ministry of Public Security.

He also proposed that the two sides promote research and cooperation in technical fields, cybersecurity and critical technologies.

Additionally, the Minister suggested further coordinating closely and effectively in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition of offenders and transfer of sentenced persons, while ensuring the security and safety of and creating favorable conditions for their citizens to live, study and work legally in each other’s country.

Thanking Minister Luong Tam Quang for the reception, Ambassador Gillian Bird emphasized that, building on the positive outcomes of General Secretary and State President To Lam’s recent visit to Australia, there remained significant potential for further cooperation between the two countries generally and between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Australian law enforcement agencies particularly.

The Ambassador affirmed that she would continue serving as a bridge between the Ministry of Public Security and Australian competent authorities to facilitate the effective implementation of the common understandings reached by the two countries’ top leaders and make security and law enforcement cooperation an increasingly substantive pillar of the Viet Nam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.