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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien speaking at the event |
Speaking at the event, General Chien congratulated Canada on its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked the country for its support to Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention and control efforts over the past time.
General Chien emphasized that Vietnam always appreciates Canada’s role and position in the region and international arena and hopes to strengthen its relationship with the country for peace and development in the region and the world.
He affirmed that Vietnam will continue supporting Canada to strengthen its cooperation with regional countries based on ASEAN's principle of consensus.
Exchanging views on regional and international situations, the two sides affirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for international law in the East Sea (South China Sea). They stressed that disputes should be settled by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982), for peace, stability and development of countries in the region and world.
At the event, the two sides highlighted the outcomes of the Vietnam-Canada Defense Consultation on July 7. They agreed that the bilateral defense cooperation has been effectively implemented in line with the memorandum of understanding on bilateral defense cooperation inked by the two defense ministers in 2019 as well as their potential and demand.
The two deputy defense ministers said that the opening of Canada’s Defense Attaché Office in Hanoi is an important milestone in bilateral defense cooperation, which has become one of the important contents in the Vietnam-Canada comprehensive partnership. They recalled that the two countries have enhanced their defense cooperation through activities, including dialogues, consultations, training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, maritime security and cooperation at multilateral forums.
Also at the dialogue, the two sides adopted a defense cooperation plan for the 2021-2023 period as a basis for the implementation of prioritized defense cooperation contents in the coming time. The plan is expected to contribute to enhancing defense cooperation between the two countries.
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Vietnamese delegation at the dialogue in Hanoi |
On the occasion, General Chien asked Canada to supply COVID-19 vaccines and help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccine sources as well as COVID-19 prevention and control equipment.
At the dialogue, the Vietnamese deputy defense minister and his Canadian counterpart witnessed the signing of the minutes of the first Vietnam-Canada Defense Policy Dialogue between the heads of the delegations of the two countries.
Translated by Tran Hoai