Vietnam's To Lam begins state visits to Australia and New Zealand

To Lam state visit Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Vietnam-Australia relations Vietnam-New Zealand relations

Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam is conducting a series of historic state visits to Australia and New Zealand from August 9 to 14, 2026. The mission follows the recent elevation of bilateral relations with both nations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships.

In Australia, the visit marks the first time a Vietnamese Party and State leader has conducted a state visit to the country. Discussions are expected to focus on deepening ties within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a particular emphasis on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Trade remains a major pillar, with two-way trade already exceeding 14 billion USD, and both nations aiming to push this figure toward 20 billion USD.

In New Zealand, the visit is the first state visit by a Vietnamese President since 2007. The two nations, which marked 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, are working to translate political commitments into concrete actions in agriculture, education, health, and sustainable development. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and New Zealand has shown significant growth, increasing 72% over the last five years to reach NZD 3.41 billion, with a target of 3 billion USD in the near future.

Entities

Australia · Cindy Kiro · My Thuan Bridge · New Zealand · Nguyen Manh Cuong · Sam Mostyn · To Lam · Vietnam

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Vietnam and Australia are aiming to push bilateral trade to 20 billion USD. cafef.vn · zh.vietnamplus.vn · en.cand.vn
[● 7 SOURCES] This is the first time a General Secretary and President of Vietnam has conducted a state visit to New Zealand. kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn · baoquocte.vn · vtv.vn · en.baochinhphu.vn · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Australia held above 14 billion USD during 2024–2025. vietnaminsiders.com · cafef.vn · www.perthnow.com.au · tienphong.vn · thanhnien.vn
[DISPUTED] General Secretary and President To Lam will conduct a state visit to Australia and New Zealand from August 9 to 14, 2026. vietnaminsiders.com · kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn · baoquocte.vn · en.cand.vn · +3 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Vietnam’s exports to Australia jumped to around 6.8 billion USD in 2025. vietnaminsiders.com
[● 2 SOURCES] By the end of July, total registered Australian investment in Vietnam topped 2 billion USD. vietnaminsiders.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Science, technology, and innovation are expected to become new pillars of the Vietnam-Australia relationship. en.cand.vn · tienphong.vn · tuoitre.vn · zh.vietnamplus.vn
[● 2 SOURCES] Potential areas of cooperation include AI, semiconductors, automation, smart manufacturing, and clean energy. zh.vietnamplus.vn
[● 5 SOURCES] The visit aims to link high-level diplomacy with concrete cooperation in economy, technology, education, and human resources. cafef.vn · thanhnien.vn
[○ 1 SOURCE] Vietnam and New Zealand are aiming to increase bilateral trade to 3 billion USD. vtv.vn
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Australia leg is the first-ever state visit by a Vietnamese Party and State leader. en.cand.vn
[● 11 SOURCES] To Lam serves as the General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of Vietnam. en.cand.vn · baoquocte.vn · cafef.vn · mattran.org.vn · www.perthnow.com.au · +3 more