Vietnam's President To Lam Visits Australia and New Zealand to Strengthen Ties

Vietnamese President To Lam is set to visit Australia and New Zealand next week to strengthen partnerships and promote cooperation, particularly in science and technology, according to a statement from Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This visit will be To Lam's first to Oceania since the unification of the top leadership positions of General Secretary and President in April 2026. Australian news outlet ABC News had reported on July 24, 2026, that To Lam was expected to visit the country in the coming weeks. Australia is one of Vietnam's highest-level partners, holding a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Hanoi and Canberra aim to expand cooperation in areas such as climate, environment, energy, defense, security, economy, and education. Vietnam's vast untapped mineral reserves also make the Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people an attractive partner for Australia, a leading producer of critical minerals used in smartphones and cars. Two-way goods trade exceeded $30 billion in 2025, meeting growth targets set during Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to Hanoi in 2023. During To Lam's visit, Vietnam and Australia are expected to sign between 12 and 16 agreements in fields including education, digital transformation, agriculture, and healthcare. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, also a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of Vietnam, officials anticipate the signing of 5 to 6 agreements. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that Hanoi and Wellington aim to enhance cooperation in agriculture, education, tourism, technology, aviation, and investment, thereby supporting increased exports and job creation. Since assuming the role of General Secretary in 2024, To Lam has maintained a busy diplomatic schedule aimed at bolstering Hanoi's strategy of diversifying its international relations. A week after being elected President in April, he made a four-day visit to China, seen by regional observers as a sign of warming ties between the two communist-led neighbors. He subsequently visited India, another Comprehensive Strategic Partner, and Sri Lanka. In May 2026, To Lam undertook a state visit to Singapore and participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue, where he became the first Vietnamese leader to deliver the opening address at the premier Asian security forum. Alongside Singapore, the Vietnamese leader also visited Thailand and the Philippines. According to Dr. Hunter Marston, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, middle powers like Australia and Vietnam are "gravitating towards each other as a hedge against geopolitical volatility" in the face of an unpredictable United States and ongoing US-China tensions. Both nations seek to maintain a stable balance of power in the Pacific and prevent any single great power from dominating the region. However, Dr. Marston also noted significant differences in perspectives between Vietnam and Australia. He pointed out that Australia supports an active and permanent US military presence in the region, while Vietnam is reluctant to join alliances. Analysts suggest Vietnam will continue to prioritize relations with China while seeking to balance its ties with the US and garner further support from middle powers like Australia.