Australia will have Vietnam’s support in deporting illegal Vietnamese migrants back to their home country, according to a memorandum of understanding signed in Canberra on Monday.

The memorandum followed a meeting the same day between Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam and Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton as part of the former’s working visit to Australia.

The memorandum will provide a formal framework for the return of Vietnamese citizens with no legal right to enter or remain in Australia, including those intercepted at sea.

The event marks a significant milestone in Australia and Vietnam’s bilateral relations, while also serves an important role in the two countries’ broader efforts in cracking down on illegal human migration in the region, Dutton said.

The governments of Australia and Vietnam have since 2015 worked together to return 113 Vietnamese citizens who attempted to cross into Australia on three ships and were interceptedd by the Australian Border Force under Operation Sovereign Borders.

"Australia's borders are stronger than ever and our tough border protection policies are here to stay," Dutton said in a media statement.

The two countries are in the process of upgrading bilateral relations through cooperation in border control and immigration so as to promote legal migration and trade in the region.

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