January 30, 2026 | 22:42 (GMT+7)
GS’s Chief receives Commander of Royal Australian Navy
PANO – Chief of the General Staff (GS) and Deputy Defense Minister General Nguyen Tan Cuong received Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Commander of the Royal Australian Navy, on the morning of January 30 at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense, on the occasion of his visit and working trip to Vietnam.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong exchanges views with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond during the meeting. |
At the meeting, General Cuong affirmed that Vietnam prioritizes its relationship with Australia, noting that the March 2024 elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has bolstered defense ties.
He emphasized that bilateral defense cooperation, guided by the 2010 MoU and 2018 Joint Vision Statement, has progressed across key areas: delegation exchanges, U.N. peacekeeping, war legacy settlement, and multilateral engagement within ADMM+.
General Cuong praised the recent discussions between the Vietnamese and Australian naval commanders, pledging the Ministry of National Defense’s full support for future naval initiatives. He highlighted successful cooperation in port visits, English-language training, and professional courses. Moving forward, he urged both navies to prioritize training, information sharing, and search-and-rescue operations.
Finally, General Cuong invited Australian defense leaders and enterprises to the 3rd Vietnam Defense Exhibition in December 2026.
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An overview of the meeting |
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and Navy for their hospitality, expressing a desire to return. He voiced confidence that 2026 would be a historic year, fostering stronger cooperation between the two defense ministries and navies to enhance bilateral ties.
Translated by Tran Hoai