At the meeting, the Vietnamese deputy defense minister thanked Australia for its donation of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam as well as its assistance to the country in transporting personnel of level-2 field hospital to United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The Vietnamese official affirmed that the practical deed has demonstrated Australia’s responsibility as well as the close relationship between the two countries. He asked the Australia to continue supporting the defense cooperation between the two countries.

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At the meeting

The Australian diplomat affirmed that although the COVID-19 pandemic has posed various challenges, the defense cooperation between the two countries has been maintained and obtained encouraging results. She informed that Australia has committed to donating 7.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, of which 1.5 million doses have arrived in Vietnam, and the remaining will be delivered in the next two weeks.

Over the past time, Australia has hosted online and in-person training courses to raise Vietnamese troops’ capability and command of foreign languages, helped Vietnam transport personnel of level-two field hospitals to South Sudan and donated medical supplies, worth AUD 1.5 million, to the country.

According to Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie, the spotlight in the bilateral defense cooperation in the 2020-2021 period is the implementation of Indo-Pacific Program, including visits of Australian ships to Vietnam.

She expected that the two sides will soon resume annual meetings at defense minister level, marking a new development in the bilateral defense cooperation.

Translated by Tran Hoai