Vietnam and Australia will further collaborate in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, cross-border data flows, and undersea cable connectivity.
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell and Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on digital economy cooperation in Canberra, establishing a five-year framework for joint work, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement on Tuesday.
The MoU was among seven cooperation documents exchanged during a state visit to Australia on August 11-12, conducted by Vietnamese General Secretary and State President To Lam.
Under the agreement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will handle cooperation on digital trade and regulation. The Ministry of Science and Technology will oversee digital transformation, connectivity and digital skills. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will coordinate across Australian agencies.
The two governments identified three priority areas, namely digital trade and regulation, digital transformation and connectivity, and digital skills. The cooperation covers personal data protection, data governance, online consumer protection, and paperless trading.
Regarding infrastructure and technology, the appendix cites cooperation on digital platforms in sectors such as finance, agriculture, healthcare and energy; measures to prevent fraud and cybercrime; and support for investment in undersea cables, data centers, cloud infrastructure and broadband networks.
It also references capacity building in semiconductors and AI through existing programs, and cooperation between Australian and Vietnamese universities.
The memorandum builds on the Australia–Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, signed in November 2021, and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the two countries established in March 2024. Two-way trade reached more than $14 billion in 2025, and the two governments have set a target of $20 billion.
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