"The prime minister expressed to me Vietnam's support for Australia's involvement in the East Asian Summit," which will be held in Malaysia in December, said Mr. Howard to reporters at a joint news conference in the Australian capital Canberra.

"I'd like to emphasize once again that we always highly appreciate the role played by Australia in the region and the world," PM Khai said as quoted by ABC Radio Australia.

"Therefore, Australia should participate in such a summit meeting and should have an important voice in that forum," he said

The summit is expected to be a step towards an emerging East Asia regional grouping, comprising of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan, China and South Korea.

U.S. visit

PM Khai also announced plans to visit the United States late next month, the first visit by a Vietnamese leader since the end of the Vietnam War 30 years ago.

"Arrangements are being made now so that I may visit the United States at the end of June," Mr. Khai told reporters as quoted by Reuters.

"Thirty years have passed since the end of the war. This is the first ever visit by the leader of a unified Vietnam to the United States," he added.

(Source: ABC Radio Australia, AAP, Reuters – Compiled by The Vinh)