Vietnam to Maintain Preferential Visa Fees for Australia, Emphasizes International Contributions

Australia is poised to maintain its preferential visa fee policies for citizens of ASEAN member states and Vietnam, as indicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' readiness to foster cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stands ready to work with other ministries and agencies to facilitate cooperation and connect Vietnamese enterprises with Australian and New Zealand counterparts. Vietnam is also actively contributing to the international community. Recently, a Vietnamese rescue team was dispatched to the earthquake-stricken areas in Venezuela, where they discovered and recovered numerous bodies, handing them over to local authorities. This mission has been lauded as a strong reflection of Vietnam's spirit of international solidarity. The deployed rescuers worked closely with local authorities under harsh conditions, utilizing specialized equipment for swift and efficient search and rescue operations. Ambassador My inquired about the team’s living and working conditions and commended the sense of responsibility, determination, and resilience demonstrated by officers and soldiers of the contingent. He emphasised that Vietnam’s deployment of search and rescue forces to assist Venezuela in overcoming natural disaster consequences is a noble gesture, reflecting a strong spirit of international solidarity. Domestically, infrastructure development and disaster preparedness are also being advanced. In coastal areas, the issuance of permits for overnight stays and evening tours for vessels in specific waters has been temporarily suspended due to the approach of a tropical storm. The Quang Ninh provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment issued an urgent directive suspending the issuance of permits for vessels operating overnight stays and evening tours in local waters from noon on July 3 as tropical storm Maysak is approaching. The Vietnam Railway Authority and Vietnam Railways Corporation are also preparing contingency plans, including service suspensions, frequency reductions, and passenger transfers, in response to flooding, subsidence, or landslides that may disrupt railway sections. Furthermore, efforts to strengthen sustainable fisheries management and prevent Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing are being intensified. Notably, the completion of 100% installation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) devices and mandatory vessel identification for fishing vessels measuring 15 metres or longer has significantly strengthened fisheries management and IUU fishing prevention, according to the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment. Economically, Vietnam has reiterated its commitment to fully supporting foreign investors, including those from Australia, for long-term business operations. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stated that Vietnam always offers all possible support to foreign investors, including those from Australia, to do business over the long haul. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.