Australian FM in Vietnam
Updated
![Stephen Smith is expected to use the visit to reflect on 35 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. [Radio Australia]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/vietnam_smith_ra_020708.jpg "Stephen Smith is expected to use the visit to reflect on 35 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. [Radio Australia]")
Stephen Smith is expected to use the visit to reflect on 35 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. [Radio Australia]
Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith, will meet Vietnam's prime minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, in a visit marking 35 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Our South-east Asia correspondent, Karen Percy, reports Mr Smith will also use a speech to business leaders in Hanoi to urge Vietnan to push ahead with further economic reforms.
It's Mr Smith's first visit to Vietnam and he is also scheduled to speak with members of the Australian Chamber of Commerce, where he's expected to reflect on three-and-a-half decades of Australian-Vietnam relations.
He's expected to pay tribute to the many Australians who live in Vietnam now who are contributing to the business and trade relationship.
Mr Smith says he's keen to build on the $US5.7 billion-a-year in trade between the two countries.
He also wants to be able to offer more education scholarships to students here to help the country overcome poverty.
The foreign minister then heads to Thailand.
