During the dialogue, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien underlined that over the past time, based on signed documents and agreements as well as the guidance of the senior leadership of the two countries and defense ministries, the Vietnam - U.S. defense cooperation has been implemented in an active and effective manner, obtaining considerable results in various areas, such as delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, particular high-level ones; dialogue and consultation mechanisms; defense industry cooperation, training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, and military medicine; mutual consultation and support at multilateral defense forums, particularly within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+). Cooperation in war legacy remediation remains to be a highlight of Vietnam - U.S. relations, strongly supported and prioritized by both countries’ senior leaders, while programs supporting people with disabilities affected by Agent Orange/dioxin exposure have been expanded, and efforts to search for U.S. servicemen missing in action (MIA) during the war in Vietnam have been effectively carried out, among others.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien presents the letter of the Vietnamese Defense Minister to his U.S. counterpart. |
The Vietnamese defense leader required that in the time to come, both sides would continue to promote cooperation in war legacy remediation efforts in line with the agreed road-map, and enhance dissemination to raise public awareness of the Vietnam - U.S. relations.
For his part, John Noh reaffirmed his strong support for a strong and independent Vietnam. Regarding bilateral defense cooperation, the U.S. strongly supports war legacy remediation efforts and highly appreciates the obtained positive outcomes, particularly in war consequence remediation and MIA operations.
He also hoped that the two sides would effectively implement the agreed contents of the updated U.S. - Vietnam joint vision statement on defense cooperation, signed in September 2024, and expand collaboration in the areas on shared concern.
At the dialogue, they discussed some regional and global issues of mutual concern. Gen. Chien underscored Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of external relations, and being ready to cooperate with countries and organizations for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Mr. John Noh hand over the records on war keepsakes. |
Vietnam supports the settlement of all disputes and differences through peaceful measures in line with international law, he stated, affirming that it stays persistent in its "Four Nos" defense policy. On the East Sea (aka South China Sea) issue, Gen. Chien emphasized Vietnam’s consistent position of respecting international practices and law, particularly the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, adhering to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and pushing for the early finalization of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC).
Concluding the dialogue, both sides inked the minutes of the 13th event and exchanged records on war keepsakes. A letter from the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense to his U.S. counterpart was also presented, expressing the high evaluation of progress in bilateral defense ties and calling for the U.S. Department of Defense's support for trade and tariff negotiations between the two countries..
Translated by Chung Anh