(VNA): Both Vietnam and Australia want to create an environment of peace, stability, co-operation and development in the South Pacific and Asian-Pacific regions, said President Tran Duc Luong while receiving Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill in Hanoi on April 7.

President Luong spoke highly of the multifaceted co-operation between Vietnam and Australia and expressed his joy at the increasing expansion and development of the two countries' all-round relations.

The President said he was pleased to know that the Vietnamese and Australian Defence Ministries have established a direct relationship and maintained exchanges with the aim of expanding bilateral co-operative ties in several new areas. He thanked Australia for its goodwill in granting scholarships to Vietnamese military officers and students to pursue higher education in Australia.

The sharing of information on terrorism and pirate prevention, as well as the enhancement of co-operation in military medicine, rescue work and natural disaster and epidemic mitigation is necessary for the two defence ministries, he said.

The Vietnamese leader was also pleased to find that Vietnam and Australia have paid due attention to intensifying multilateral co-operation, and initially expanded co-operative ties with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in addition to their bilateral relations.

On the occasion, President Luong expressed his sympathy and sent condolences to families of Australian crew members who were killed in a recent plane crash while taking part in rescue work in Indonesia.

For his part, Minister Hill affirmed that Australia wants to boost military co-operation with Vietnam and is willing to help Vietnam train its military officers and students.

Minister Hill added that Australia will also help Vietnam carry out co-operation projects on military medicine, epidemic and natural disaster prevention, and fighting terrorism. Apart from bilateral relations, there should be co-operation among regional countries to address issues needing the participation of parties, he said.

*Viet Nam, Australia to continue national defence cooperation: Defence Minister Gen. Pham Van Tra and visiting Australian counterpart Robert Hill affirmed that the two sides would continue to cooperate in controlling malaria and dengue fever, training English language teachers and in other fields for Vietnamese army officers.

The two ministers said so in a working session held after an official ceremony to welcome Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill and his entourage in Ha Noi on April 7.

Gen. Tra said the official friendship visit to Viet Nam by the Australian Defence Minister would contribute to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the armies and people of the two countries.

Minister Hill expressed his joy at the achievements made by Viet Nam in the renewal process.

The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern for the sake of cooperation, peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole./.