At the event, both sides had the shared views that despite the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to their efforts, the Vietnam - Philippines defense cooperation has gained important achievements, making active contribution to the bilateral relations.
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Deputy Minister of National Defense Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (left) and Philippine Undersecretary of National Defense Irineo Cruz Espino |
In addition, agreed cooperation contents reached at the previous dialogue have been implemented effectively, with good outcomes in many fields, such as delegation exchange, maintenance of consultation and dialogue mechanisms, among others.
Both sides also spoke highly of the sixth Joint Working Group meeting on defense cooperation which was held earlier the same day.
Sharing viewpoints about the regional and world situations and highly appreciating the ASEAN-led mechanisms, both sides affirmed to together make active contribution to enhancing solidarity and ASEAN’s centrality in the regional security. They also agreed to promote the implementation and observance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea (South China Sea) and soon sign the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is conformable to international law and U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
Regarding cooperation orientations in the coming time, the two sides will try their best to further promote the bilateral defense cooperation, boost delegation exchange, and maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms, especially the defense policy consultation and dialogue mechanisms; step up collaboration in training; pay more attention to cooperation in logistics; and enhance cooperation in such areas as military medicine, search and rescue operations, and defense industry, to name but a few.
On the occasion, Gen. Chien invited the Philippines' defense leaders to attend the Vietnam International Defense Expo next year.
Translated by Minh Anh