“The Prime Ministers of Australia and Vietnam, Malcolm Turnbull and Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will sign a strategic partnership agreement in Canberra on March 16. Over the last forty-five years Australia and Vietnam have built up strategic trust based on mutual respect and shared interests. In 2009, Australia and Vietnam agreed to form a comprehensive partnership (2009) and in 2015 they agreed to enhance the comprehensive partnership. The new strategic partnership between Australia and Vietnam must be forward looking and reflect the reality that both countries have a growing convergence of national interests. After the strategic partnership is signed both sides will have to work draw up a Plan of Action for the coming years.