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Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski speaking at the event |
The event was attended by Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, leaders of services, agencies, and units of the Ministry of National Defense, diplomatic and defense representatives of countries and international organizations in Vietnam.
Speaking at the event, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski laid stress on the bilateral defense cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. He affirmed that the bilateral defense cooperation is increasingly expanded in many fields, including United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping, military medicine cooperation, information sharing, maritime security, and exchange of shooting skills.
According to him, Anzac Day is an opportunity for the Australian people to commemorate servicemen who laid down their lives for the nation and learn about the severity of war, the value of peace, and the sacrifices of the fallen ones.
For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan expressed his delight at the continuous development of the relationship between Vietnam and Australia. “We are pleased to see the growing economic ties, stronger people-to-people exchanges, especially mutual support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and encouraging results in cooperation in trade and investment over the past time," said Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan.
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Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan at the banquet |
According to Deputy Chief of the General Staff, the defense cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Australia has seen many positive results and become a pillar in the relationship between the two countries. Bilaterally, the two sides have actively and effectively cooperated, bringing practical benefits in such areas as delegation exchange, dialogue, consultation, training, U.N. peacekeeping, military medicine, and experience sharing between arms and services, and settlement of war legacy.
In terms of multilateral relations, the two countries jointly founded the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, which has become a strategic defense cooperation mechanism for peace and stability in the region.
On a global scale, the cooperation between the two sides in U.N. peacekeeping is a bright spot and a testament to their joint efforts to contribute to world peace.
On this occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan highly appreciated Australia's timely and effective cooperation and support for the Vietnamese people and the Vietnam People's Army in the COVID-19 pandemic and U.N. peacekeeping, especially the transportation of Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospitals to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan.
Treasuring the help, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan said that it showed the friendship and willingness to support each other between the two countries and the two armies.
Translated by Tran Hoai