Party General Secretary and State President To Lam visits the exhibition showcasing achievements in science and technology cooperation, innovation, investment and education between Vietnam and Australia. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The Joint Statement was issued on the occasion of the State visit to Australia by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, as Vietnam and Australia continue to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The leaders of the two countries affirmed that science, technology and innovation are becoming one of the pillars of the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.

PTIT lecturers and students conduct practical and research activities at the Vietnam-Australia Lab at PTIT

Notably, the Joint Statement welcomed the implementation of Phase II of the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre (AVSTC), recognizing it as a “model partnership” to advance cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, initially focusing on breakthrough applications of 5G and related enabling technologies.

The recognition of AVSTC in a joint document at the leaders’ level marks an important milestone for both the Centre and PTIT. AVSTC was launched at PTIT in June 2025 through cooperation among Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), with the participation of technology partners. The Centre aims to connect the research, education and innovation capabilities of the two countries in areas including 5G/6G, cybersecurity, AI, semiconductors and strategic technologies.

PTIT and UTS exchange an MoU on joint research cooperation during the ceremony for the exchange of cooperation documents and announcement of initiatives at the Forum, where 30 cooperation documents were exchanged in the presence of the leaders of the two countries

In particular, at the Vietnam-Australia Tech-Connect Forum 2026 on August 10, PTIT and UTS exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding on joint research cooperation in support of AVSTC’s activities, witnessed by the leaders of the two countries. At the same time, new resources were committed to the Centre, with VND 25 billion from Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology and AUD 1.1 million from the Australian side, providing a foundation for AVSTC to enter a new phase of development.

From a technology cooperation initiative between Vietnamese and Australian partners, AVSTC is gradually developing into a concrete platform connecting the two countries’ science, technology and innovation ecosystems. The Centre’s recognition in the Joint Statement by the leaders of the two countries not only affirms the significance of this cooperation model but also highlights PTIT’s increasingly prominent role in advancing international cooperation in the research, development and application of strategic technologies.