At the meeting, the Vietnamese top defense official expressed his deep condolences to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, on September 8.
Welcoming the British diplomat to Vietnam, General Phan Van Giang believed that in his new working position, Ambassador Iain Frew will make positive contribution to enhancing the Vietnam - U.K. strategic partnership in general and defense cooperation in particular.
The Vietnamese defense leader affirmed that over the past time, bilateral defense cooperation has played an important role in the Vietnam - U.K. strategic partnership. Notably, the two sides have effectively maintained defense cooperation relations as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic is under control and successfully organized the first session of the Defense Policy Dialogue within the framework of the U.K. visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in June 2022 with practical contents, contributing to enhancing understanding and cooperation for peace, stability, and development.
General Phan Van Giang hoped that in the coming time, on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation signed in 2017, the two countries' defense cooperation relations will be effectively developed in the fields of exchange of delegations, training, U.N. peacekeeping, human trafficking combat, hydrographic cooperation, defense industry, and response to non-traditional security challenges.
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General Phan Van Giang presents a souvenir to his guest. |
In the short term, the two sides are actively preparing for the second session of the Vietnam - U.K. Defense Policy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level in 2022 in Hanoi. General Phan Van Giang affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense will pay attention to and actively participate in and contribute to activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973 - 2023).
The Vietnamese defense minister took the occasion to invite the British counterpart and defense enterprises to the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2022.
For his part, the British ambassador thanked Defense Minister Phan Van Giang for the reception. Ambassador Iain Frew said that in 2023, the two countries will celebrate 50 years of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations. This event is an opportunity for the two countries to further promote their relations, including defense ties for peace, stability, cooperation and common development in the region and the world.
The diplomat affirmed that he will do his utmost to contribute to strengthening the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the U.K. in the coming time.
Translated by Tran Hoai