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An overview of the meeting |
At the meeting, Gen. Giang emphasized that General Secretary To Lam’s official visit holds great significance as it takes place amidst the strong and steadily developing Vietnam - U.K. relationship, which continues to be consolidated on the basis of mutual trust, equality, respect, and the interests of both peoples. The Vietnamese defense chief reaffirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to and prioritizes enhancing its cooperative ties with the U.K. across all fields, particularly defense.
The host stressed that Vietnam is one of the U.K.’s key partners in defense cooperation and that experience sharing remains a focal area that the U.K. wishes to promote. He affirmed to exert more efforts to strengthen the Vietnam - U.K. relationship in general and the defense cooperation between the two ministries in particular in a more practical and effective manner.
During the meeting, the two sides underlined that the bilateral defense ties have been implemented in line with the established orientation and consistent with the outcomes of the fifth Vietnam - U.K. defense policy dialogue and the MoU on bilateral defense cooperation signed in 2017. Positive and substantive results have been seen in several key areas, including delegation exchanges at all levels; effective maintenance of cooperation mechanisms, especially the annual defense policy dialogue; maritime security and safety; U.N. peacekeeping; training; and hydrography.
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Gen. Phan Van Giang presents a souvenir to the host. |
Minister Giang thanked the U.K. Ministry of Defense for its annual support in providing English language training and professional capacity building for officers of the Vietnam People’s Army through courses on staff command, mapping, and U.N. peacekeeping operations. He hoped that the U.K. ministry would continue offering specialized training programs in techniques, cybersecurity, international relations, hydrography, English language, and military medicine; send English instructors to teach directly at Vietnam’s military academies and schools; and increase exchanges on teaching methodologies. He also affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense stands ready to receive U.K. servicemen to study Vietnamese and attend international defense courses in Vietnam.
Gen. Giang spoke highly of the U.K.’s active support to Vietnam since its early stages of deployment of its Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 1 to U.N. Mission in South Sudan. He noted that Vietnam plans to further expand its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations and suggested the two sides consider signing a MoU on cooperation in this field.
The Vietnamese general also expressed gratitude to the U.K. for sending delegations and defense enterprises to attend and exhibit at the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024, and expressed his wish for continued U.K. participation in future editions of the event.
To further align bilateral defense cooperation with the growing Vietnam - U.K. relationship, the host and guest agreed to continue promoting all-level delegation exchanges, especially high-level ones, to strengthen mutual trust, understanding, and cooperation in areas of shared interest. They also agreed to maintain effective consultation and dialogue mechanisms; enhance training collaboration; foster linkages between military academies and institutions of the two sides; and expand cooperation in military medicine, navigation security and safety, hydrography, defense industry, and U.N. peacekeeping. They will continue cooperation in combating human trafficking and explore potential collaboration in war legacy relief in Vietnam.
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A group photo of General Phan Van Giang, U.K. Minister of State for Defense Vernon Coaker and other delegates |
In addition, they reached agreement to assign relevant agencies of both ministries to actively promote and implement the agreed areas of cooperation.
Reported by Thu Trang (from London, the U.K.)
Translated by Mai Huong