India, Aug. 17 -- Australia and Vietnam have strengthened agricultural ties with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agriculture and Sustainable Development, opening new avenues for cooperation in agricultural policy, sustainable fisheries and forestry management, biosecurity, food safety and trade.

The agreement was formalised during Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to Australia this week, reinforcing the growing bilateral relationship and creating a framework for collaboration across key areas of the food and agriculture value chain.

Vietnam is Australia's eighth-largest market for agriculture, fisheries and forestry commodities. Australian exports of these products to Vietnam were valued at...