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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong (left) and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles |
The call was within the framework of General Cuong’s ongoing official visit to Australia.
At the meeting, Mr. Richard Marles welcomed the Vietnamese guests in Australia at the time the two countries are organizing numerous activities, including high level external relations activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations (1973 - 2023). He spoke highly of the visit, adding that it aims to strengthen political trust, mutual understanding, and cooperation between the two militaries. He hoped that in the coming time, the two defense ministries will have many high-level contacts to improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of mutual interest.
Gen. Cuong thanked the host for the reception and conveyed the greetings of General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense, to him.
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An overview of the meeting |
The Vietnamese chief of the General Staff affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to the relations with Australia and highly appreciates the country’s potential and position. He expressed his delight at seeing that the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership is developing actively, substantively and intensively in many fields, in line with the signed cooperation agreements, making important contribution to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
Highly agreeing with Gen. Cuong’s assessment, the Australian leader underlined that Australia treasures the relations with ASEAN countries and those in the Pacific region. He hoped that at the upcoming talks between Gen. Cuong and General Angus Campbell who is Chief of the Defense Force of Australia, the two sides will define contents and solutions to promote the Vietnam - Australia relations in a sustainable, practical and effective manner.
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Gen. Cuong (C) at the meeting |
For his part, Gen. Cuong expressed thanks to Australia for supporting Vietnam in such activities as transporting personnel of Vietnam's level-two field hospitals to South Sudan to take on peacekeeping missions.
He hoped that the host and other senior leaders of Australia would continue to support the two militaries to carry out cooperation activities with a focus on exchange of high-level delegations, existing consultation - dialogue mechanisms, sharing of experience between corps and services, training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and settlement of war legacy. He also suggested considering the possibility of expanding cooperation in areas such as cyber security, defense industry; and enhancing cooperation in multilateral frameworks.
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Australian Deputy PM and Minister for Defense Richard Marles (C) speaks at the event. |
The host and guest shared the belief that with the due attention and support of senior leaders of the two countries and two defense ministries, and with the activeness and pro-activeness of the two militaries, the bilateral defense cooperation will constantly develop, continue to be a pillar in the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership, for the benefit of each country, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
By Tien Dat from Sydney, Australia
Translated by Mai Huong