Prime Minister Phan Van Khai continues visit to Australia

* PM Phan Van Khai visits Queensland state: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on May 6 visited Queensland state, the second leg of his visit to Australia.

After a reception hosted by Governor and Trade Minister of Queensland Peter Beattie, the Vietnamese PM and the Governor met with Vietnamese and Queensland businesspeople.

At the meeting, Governor Peter Beattie said his state wants to boost co-operation with Vietnam and urged Queensland businesses and investors to build on their existing ties with Vietnamese businesses. He said he hoped PM Khai's visit would contribute to promoting the two sides' co-operation in investment, commerce, education and training.

PM Khai highlighted the fine development of Vietnam-Australia relations in recent years, and said that his visit aims to promote comprehensive, stable, and lasting relations between the two countries in the interest of both sides. He specifically noted the co-operation between Queensland state and Vietnam, which has expanded from education and training to dairy cow breeding, afforestation and other economic projects.

While in Queensland, PM Khai visited Queensland University, one of Australia's eight largest universities and research centres. About 190 Vietnamese students are studying at the university.

In Queensland state, on the morning of May 7, PM Khai visited the high-yield shrimp breeding farm in Rock Point and Gold Coast City, which has the fastest economic growth rate in Australia.

PM Khai was briefed by the Gold Coast City Council's representatives on local economic development and tourism.

At his meetings with leaders and students of Griffith University, PM Khai was informed of the results of co-operation between the university and Vietnam in combating fruit insects.

PM Khai spoke highly of the university's curriculum of lectures and scientific research, saying that it is a positive model for Vietnam's educational system.

Vietnam will need talented scientists to further national industrialisation and modernisation, said the Vietnamese PM, adding that he hoped Australian universities would expand their co-operation with Vietnam's education and training sector through increased exchanges of experience.

* Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has called upon Australian businesses to promote their investment in Vietnam. He made the appeal at an Australia-Vietnam Business Forum held in Canberra on May 5 during his visit to Australia from May 5-7.

The Vietnamese Government leader also affirmed that Vietnam is willing to create favourable conditions for Australian businesses and investors.

Addressing the forum, jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Tim Gauci, Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner in Hanoi, praised Vietnam's renewal policy and economic achievements over recent years, as well as the country's development potential in the future. He also called on Australian investors to increase their investment in Vietnam.

Later on the same day, PM Khai met with the Vietnamese community in Australia and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy.