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Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird speaks at the event. |
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Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc delivers remarks at the event. |
On behalf of Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, attended the event.
Speaking at the banquet, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird affirmed that Australia - Vietnam relations are stronger than ever, expressing her satisfaction with the development of defense cooperation, which she described as a key pillar of bilateral ties.
She voiced confidence that Australia and Vietnam will continue to advance their robust partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests for regional peace and stability.
At the event, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc extended his warmest congratulations to the Australian Defense Force, expressing confidence that it will continue to grow and make significant contribution to Australia, as well as to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
He emphasized that over more than half a century, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, now elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, have been continuously strengthened across various fields, with defense cooperation serving as a key pillar. The two sides have maintained effective cooperation in delegation exchanges, dialogue and consultation, training, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and post-war recovery efforts, thereby contributing to advancing the international integration and defense diplomacy of the Vietnam People’s Army.
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Ambassador Gillian Bird and Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc with ambassadors and representatives of foreign embassies in Vietnam |
At the multilateral level, both countries are active participants in regional defense and security mechanisms, including their co-founding role and effective coordination within the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). On the global scale, Vietnam - Australia cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations has become a highlight, widely recognized and appreciated by the international community for its their contributions to global peace.
On this occasion, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc also expressed gratitude to the Australian Government, the Australian Department of Defense, and the Australian Defense Force for annually deploying Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to assist in transporting personnel and equipment of Vietnam’s Level-2 Field Hospitals to United Nations missions in South Sudan, an act that reflects friendship and mutual support.
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Vietnamese and international delegates attend the event. |
He affirmed that the Vietnam People’s Army will continue to closely coordinate with the Australian Defense Force in implementing defense cooperation activities previously agreed by defense leaders of the two sides, contributing to further deepening the Vietnam - Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the benefit of both nations and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
Translated by Trung Thanh