Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnam’s top leader To Lam agreed to “further strengthen defence and security engagement”, according to a joint statement released by Australia. They called for disputes to be resolved peacefully through legal and diplomatic processes, without the threat or use of force. Following a visit to Danang in April, HMAS Toowoomba trained with Vietnam People’s Navy ship 275 off the Vietnamese coast, including search-and-rescue and ship-handling exercises. Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1973 and upgraded ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March 2024. From Australia, Lam heads to New Zealand, the first visit by a Vietnamese president since 2007, where he is expected to focus on trade, investment, technology, agriculture and other areas.