Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded his first official visit to Vietnam, a strategic and economic partner and enduring friend to Australia. Stepping-up Australia’s relations with Vietnam is an important part of the Government’s determination to rebuild Australia’s links with the countries of Southeast Asia.

This year marks 50 years since diplomatic relations were established with Vietnam. Since then, our partnership has expanded significantly, with work now underway to elevate the Australia-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to 7.30.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be back, Sarah.

FERGUSON: Welcome back from your trip.

PRIME MINISTER: It was a very successful trip to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and then the bilateral visit to Vietnam.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

I'm proud to lead a government that will give Australians the chance to recognise Indigenous Australians in our Constitution.

What a moment of national unity it could be. What a moment of unity I believe it will be.

And, like so many of the important turning points in our national story, the union movement will play a crucial role.

The Australian Government has welcomed Qantas and Jetstar as the first airlines to sign up to the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) to operate domestic flights.

This agreement is expected to support more than 25,000 flights, carrying more than four million passengers, through WSI each year – and will support 700 jobs.

WSI is a transformational infrastructure project that will generate economic activity, provide long-term employment opportunities in the Western Sydney region, and meet Sydney's growing aviation needs.

AUNTY GAIL SMITH: Good morning and welcome to the Western Sydney International Airport for the 50 per cent milestone of completing the airport. I would like to acknowledge the families of the Cabrogal clan as the traditional custodian of the land we are on. As we gather here for this important occasion, I pay my respect to the elders past, present, and all First People here today on our border community. We stand here this morning to acknowledge the traditional owners and to recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. My name is Aunty Gail Smith.

DAVID KOCH, HOST: The PM joins us now. Anthony Albanese, good morning to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G’day Kochie, this is like a eulogy for you but you’re still here, mate. Like what’s going on?

KOCH: We’ve got to cover the news of the day.

PRIME MINISTER: Indeed.

KOCH: Did your colleague mislead Parliament?

PRIME MINISTER: No.

KOCH: From that vision it shows that she clearly did.

Rale Rasic was a football pioneer who leaves a mighty legacy.

His playing talent brought him from his homeland in then-Yugoslavia to Footscray JUST. The joy and success he found there launched his coaching career and made Australia his home.

Only eight years after his arrival in Australia and at just 34, Rale was appointed coach of the Australian national team. A courageous choice that would launch a bold new era.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I thank Prime Minister Chinh for the very warm welcome to Vietnam, and for the very constructive dialogue and meeting that we held today. This afternoon, of course, I have further meetings with Vietnam's leadership. But right now, we're here to meet the Young Matildas, who are doing such a great job of representing Australia, proudly here at the qualifiers for the Asia Cup here in Vietnam. They had a big win last night, 5-0 against Lebanon.

VƯƠNG ĐÌNH HUỆ, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF VIETNAM: I am confident that your visit will be a great success. And it will make meaningful contributions to further strengthening the strategic partnership between our two countries, with a view to upgrading our bilateral ties, elevating our bilateral ties to a new height - a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Australia in the time to come. I myself paid a very fruitful visit to Australia last December, as you are well informed.

I’m deeply grateful to you, Prime Minister Chinh for your hospitality this evening and for hosting me for this important visit.

It’s been an honour to travel to Vietnam in this milestone year of our relationship.

No matter where I have been on this visit – whether talking to students studying at RMIT, or meeting business representatives, or enjoying a Vietnamese beer at a bia hoi – I have felt welcome.

While I’m a long way from home, it doesn’t feel like it.

Even my Vietnamese beer yesterday was made using Australian barley.