In his opening remarks, the Vietnamese deputy defense minister emphasized that the Defense Policy Dialogue was a strategic exchange mechanism, providing an opportunity for the two defense ministries to review their cooperation outcomes since the 4th edition and to agree on future cooperation directions, especially in the context that the Vietnam-U.K. strategic partnership is being attached much importance to by the leaders of both countries, with defense cooperation continuing to be an important pillar in their overall relationship.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien receives Minister of State at the British Ministry of Defense Baron Vernon Coaker. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien at the dialogue |
During the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on the global and regional situations and matters of mutual interest. Gen. Chien reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent policy of multilateralization and diversification of its foreign relations and defense policy of peace and self-defense. He reiterated that Vietnam consistently maintains the defense policy of no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases or use of Vietnamese territory to oppose other countries, and no use of force or threatening to use force in international relations.
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Minister of State at the British Ministry of Defense Baron Vernon Coaker at the event |
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The two sides exchange view on regional and international situations. |
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Members of the British delegation |
He emphasized that Vietnam upholds the rule of law, persistently pursuing peaceful resolution to disagreements based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (also known as South China Sea) (DOC), and promoting the negotiation of a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, ensuring the legitimate interests of all parties involved.
Both sides acknowledged that Vietnam-U.K. defense cooperation has been implemented in the right direction, consistent with the outcomes of the 4th edition and the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Defense Cooperation (signed in 2017). They highlighted achievements in various areas, such as exchanges of delegations at all levels; the effective maintenance of cooperation mechanisms, especially the annual Defense Policy Dialogue; maritime security; hydrography.
They suggested that in the coming time the two sides should foster defense cooperation in line with the bilateral strategic partnership, effectively maintain consultation and dialogue mechanisms, as well as exchanges of high-level delegations to strengthen understanding and trust, and foster defense cooperation. In addition, cooperation in training and ties between military academies and schools of both countries should be enhanced.
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Members of the Vietnamese delegation |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Minister of State at the British Ministry of Defense Baron Vernon Coaker signing a cooperation document |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Minister of State at the British Ministry of Defense Baron Vernon Coaker, and delegates in a joint photo |
At the dialogue, both sides agreed to continue efforts in areas, such as counter-human trafficking, military medicine, maritime security, hydrography, defense industry, U.N. peacekeeping operations, and post-war recovery in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese deputy defense minister hoped that the U.K. Ministry of Defense will continue providing training courses and sending English language instructors to teach at the Military Science Academy. Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense is also willing to receive British military personnel to study Vietnamese at the Military Science Academy and participate in international defense official courses at the National Defense Academy.
For his part, the Minister of State at the British Ministry of Defense Baron Vernon Coaker extended condolences to Vietnam over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and expressed sympathy for the losses and damage caused by Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam.
Baron Vernon Coaker acknowledged the positive developments in Vietnam-U.K. cooperation in various fields, highlighting the significance of defense cooperation in the bilateral relationship. He pledged that the British Ministry of Defense would strive to promote and direct its relevant agencies to collaborate with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to fully implement the outcomes of the dialogue in line with the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Translated by Tran Hoai