At the talk, the two defense ministers discussed the results of Vietnam – Canada diplomatic relations since it was established in 1973.
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Minister of National Defense Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang at the telephone talk with Canadian Minister of Defense Harjit Singh Sajjan. |
They said that the bilateral defense cooperation has grown in an effective manner. The two sides have focused on implementing their memorandum of understanding (MoU) on their collaboration and achieved encouraging outcomes of cooperation in training, peacekeeping operations and maritime security.
Minister Sajjan congratulated Minister Giang on his new appointment as Vietnamese defense minister, and lauded the country’s role in ASEAN, as well as the bloc’s role in leading and fostering multilateral security cooperation mechanisms like the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).
The Canadian official hopes the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense will back Canada’s effort to join the ADMM+. He also spoke highly of the efforts of the Vietnamese Government and military in effectively preventing and controlling COVID-19.
For his part, General Giang affirmed that the new leadership of Vietnam will continue to consistently press ahead with the nation’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification as well as a defense policy of peace and self-defense, contributing to regional and global peace.
Praising Canada’s role in the region and the world, he said Vietnam wants to enhance relations with the country on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.
Both ministers agreed to further bilateral defense engagements in existing areas in line with the MoU with a focus on delegation exchange, dialogue, consultation, training, defense industry, peacekeeping operations, and marine security.
They also mentioned joint research regarding the possibilities for the sides to cooperate in military medicine against COVID-19.
They expressed their belief that the ties will be deepened toward practical outcomes and mutual benefits for peace and development regionally and globally.
Translated by Trung Thanh