At the meeting, local leaders affirmed that over the past years, Yen Bai has focused resources on transport, education and healthcare infrastructure in ethnic minority-inhabited areas.

Attention has also been paid to forest-based economy in order to boost forest development and cut greenhouse gas emissions as committed by the Vietnamese Government, they said.

The hosts briefed the delegation on the transport project connecting northern mountainous provinces, from Nghia Lo to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway, which will help shorten the travel time from Intersection IC14 of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway to Km 209+500 of National Highway 32.

They thanked the Australian Government, the embassy and the ambassador for their resource support to the Vietnamese Government and localities, including Yen Bai, in infrastructure development, helping the province fulfill its targets.

Local leaders expressed their hope that Yen Bai will receive more support from the Australian side in infrastructure development, and that the embassy will encourage Australian firms to seek investment opportunities in the province and cooperate with the locality in different fields.

Goledzinowski said although the number of cooperation and aid projects in transport remains limited, they have contributed to transport infrastructure development, traffic safety and environmental protection in the locality, mobilising public support and changing the mindset of local residents.

The Yen Bai visit, the first by an Australian delegation, marked the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Australia (1973-2023).

The ambassador expressed his wish to further support the Australian Government in such projects in Yen Bai in the time ahead.