To Lam begins state visit to Australia and New Zealand

To Lam Vietnam-Australia relations state visit Comprehensive Strategic Partnership diplomatic relations

Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam has departed Hanoi for a state visit to Australia and New Zealand, scheduled from August 9 to 14, 2026. The visit, following invitations from Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn and New Zealand's Governor-General Cindy Kiro, aims to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships between Vietnam and both nations.

In Australia, discussions are expected to focus on deepening cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, including sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and clean energy. The visit follows the upgrade of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Australia has exceeded $14 billion, with Vietnam's exports to Australia reaching $6.8 billion in 2025.

In New Zealand, the visit marks a significant milestone, being the first state visit to the country by a Vietnamese General Secretary and President. Cooperation is expected to target high-value agriculture, green growth, and education. The visit aims to leverage New Zealand's expertise in sustainable development and human resource training to support Vietnam's new economic development model.

Entities: Australia · My Thuan Bridge · New Zealand · Nguyen Manh Cuong · Sam Mostyn · To Lam · Vietnam

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Vietnam and Australia are aiming to push bilateral trade to 20 billion USD. (Vietnam and Australia aim to reach a bilateral trade target of 20 billion USD.)
[● 4 SOURCES] This is the first time a General Secretary and President of Vietnam has conducted a state visit to New Zealand. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
[● 5 SOURCES] Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Australia held above 14 billion USD during 2024–2025. (Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
[● 7 SOURCES] General Secretary and President To Lam will conduct a state visit to Australia and New Zealand from August 9 to 14, 2026. (To Lam)
[● 2 SOURCES] Vietnam’s exports to Australia jumped to around 6.8 billion USD in 2025. (Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
[● 2 SOURCES] By the end of July, total registered Australian investment in Vietnam topped 2 billion USD. (Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Science, technology, and innovation are expected to become new pillars of the Vietnam-Australia relationship. (Nghiem Duc Long)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Potential areas of cooperation include AI, semiconductors, automation, smart manufacturing, and clean energy. (Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
[● 3 SOURCES] The visit aims to link high-level diplomacy with concrete cooperation in economy, technology, education, and human resources. (Le Manh Cuong)