Deputy Defense Minister receives outgoing U.K. Ambassador to Vietnam

Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien (right) and outgoing U.K. Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward

At the reception, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien congratulated Ambassador Gareth Ward on accomplishing his term of office in Vietnam, greatly contributing to promoting the bilateral relationship in general and defense cooperation in particular.

The Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister strongly believed that the U.K. diplomat will reap more successes in his new post, thus contributing to strengthening the relationship between the U.K. and countries in the region, including Vietnam, for regional and international peace, stability, cooperation, and development. 

Highly appreciating the outcomes of the recent official visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to the U.K., Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that the visit contributed to creating new momentum to the bilateral relationship, including defense cooperation. Within the framework of the visit, the Defense Ministries of the two countries organized the first session of the fourth Vietnam – U.K. Defense Policy Dialogue. 

The Vietnamese defense leader affirmed that the defense cooperation in such fields as delegation exchange, training, and peacekeeping, has been effectively carried out on the basis of the memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation inked in 2017.

He added that the two sides have exchanged and agreed to foster cooperation in other fields, including defense industry, sign new memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation to replace the document in 2017, and make thorough preparations for the second session of the fourth Vietnam – U.K. Defense Policy Dialogue, which is scheduled to take place in October in Hanoi.

In 2023, the two sides will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam – U.K. diplomatic ties. “The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is ready to take part in related events, contributing to the common success of the celebration year,” affirmed Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien.

At the meeting

Ambassador Gareth Ward affirmed that the Vietnam – U.K. relationship has developed in all fields, including defense ties. Highlighting the role of Vietnam in ASEAN, the U.K. diplomat promised that in his new post, he will continue making contribution to consolidating the relationship between Vietnam and the U.K.

Translated by Tran Hoai