DA NANG, Vietnam, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- "I am pleased to announce that Australia and Vietnam will enhance our bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership," Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced here on Friday.

The announcement was made after the bilateral meeting between Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here on Friday on the sidelines of the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week.

"The enhanced relationship will enable our countries to work more closely together on a range of issues, including defense, trade, investment, development, education, labor, tourism, law, finance, information and communication," the Australian embassy in Vietnam cited Turnbull as saying.

Australia and Vietnam will deepen bilateral trade and direct investment, and work together to bring the Trans-Pacific Partnership into force as soon as possible, the Australian leader said, adding that by bringing the two economies closer, the two countries will drive economic growth and generate jobs.

"We also agreed to closer defense and security cooperation, including military visits, peace-keeping, aviation and maritime security and safety, counter-terrorism, special forces, war legacy issues," the Australian prime minister said.