Rear Admiral James Gilmour affirmed that despite their geographical distance, New Zealand and Vietnam share a close relationship. Both nations share common goals in global security. The visit of two Royal New Zealand Navy vessels to Vietnam not only underscores the flourishing bilateral ties between Vietnam and New Zealand but also paves the way for new avenues of cooperation in the future.

leftcenterrightdel
Rear Admiral James Gilmour welcomed by Vietnamese naval officers

According to Rear Admiral James Gilmour, there are several highlights in the defense cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand. First and foremost, New Zealand consistently values and desires to enhance its cooperation with Vietnam. In July, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Defense Minister, paid a visit to New Zealand.

Shortly thereafter, two New Zealand vessels have come to visit Vietnam. This demonstrates New Zealand's profound appreciation for its relationship with Vietnam and the significance it places on the progress made in bilateral cooperation. He stressed the role and importance of international law and multilateral cooperation. He believed that Vietnam and New Zealand both have vital interests in ensuring uninterrupted free trade flows. This is a crucial pillar for maintaining stability and prosperity for both nations.

Furthermore, Rear Admiral James Gilmour also mentioned other potential areas of bilateral defense cooperation that he believed both sides can strengthen in the near future, such as English language training, exchanges among research institutes and scholars, and collaboration in the U.N. peacekeeping operations. The Commander of the New Zealand Joint Forces highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts and contribution when deploying forces to United Nations peacekeeping missions. He emphasized that these are endeavors requiring substantial commitment and dedication from Vietnam, showing that Vietnam is an active and responsible member of the international community.

Reflecting on this visit to Vietnam, he affirmed that the trip has yielded exceptional results beyond expectations. The Commander of the New Zealand Joint Forces shared that he knew Vietnam is renowned for its hospitality and he felt truly welcomed in Vietnam. He said the hospitality throughout the visit has warmed his hearts. Recalling the words of Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, during a meeting on September 25, he noted he remembered General Tan said that autumn is an appropriate time for both sides to make commitments and promises and he hoped to return to Vietnam at an appropriate time to witness those achievements.

Translated by Trung Thanh