General Giang underscored that the Vietnam – E.U. relationship has seen fruitful outcomes over the past years. Leaders of both sides have attached much importance to promoting the relations, especially defense cooperation.

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At the reception

The Vietnamese defense minister also hailed the defense cooperation achievements that both sides gained over the past time, in accordance with the framework of the Vietnam – E.U. Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and an agreement on the establishment of the framework for Vietnam’s participation in crisis management activities of the E.U. (named the Framework Participation Agreement - FPA), in many fields, such as defense and security dialogue, education and training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, and overcoming the war aftermath.

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General Giang presents a souvenir to Ambassador Julien Guerrier.

On the basis of signed agreements and documents, and cooperation achievements over the past years, General Giang urged both sides to continue to promote defense cooperation, focusing on delegation exchanges at all levels, maintaining mechanism for defense and security dialogue and overcoming war consequences.

Regarding cooperation in U.N. peacekeeping operations, the defense leader hoped that E.U. would send more experts to Vietnam to share experience with the Vietnamese peacekeepers, especially those performing tasks in E.U. missions. He also expressed his belief that the ambassador would make active contribution to bolstering the Vietnam – E.U. relations in general, and the bilateral defense cooperation in particular, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

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Delegates in a joint photo

In turn, Ambassador Julien Guerrier stressed the Vietnam – E.U. relations and highly praised the development of the bilateral ties in various fields, including defense cooperation. He appreciated the bilateral defense and security dialogue mechanism and Vietnam’s efforts in participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations. He underlined that in the time to come, both sides should further promote defense cooperation, including delegation exchange, training, experience sharing, and U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Translated by Minh Anh