At the reception at the headquarters of the RoK Ministry of National Defense, the RoK defense minister hailed and highly appreciated General Chien’s visit to the RoK to co-chair the 10th Vietnam - RoK Defense Policy Dialogue and attend the ASEAN - RoK Deputy Defense Ministers’ Meeting and the 11th Seoul Defense Dialogue.
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RoK Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup talks with Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien. |
The host also spoke highly of the fruitful bilateral relations over the past time and the intensive, substantive, and effective bilateral defense cooperation, contributing to the development of the two countries’ strategic partnership.
Welcoming the success of the 10th Vietnam - RoK Defense Policy Dialogue held on September 5, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup expressed his belief that the contents agreed during the dialogue will help boost the defense ties between the two countries, especially concerning defense industry, maritime security, and military medicine.
For his part, General Chien thanked the host for the reception and conveyed Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang’s regards to him.
The Vietnamese general reviewed major outcomes of the 10th Vietnam - RoK Defense Policy Dialogue and hoped that the RoK defense minister will direct and create conditions for the two sides’ functional agencies to enhance cooperation fields reached at the dialogue, including defense industry, cyber security, military medicine, maritime security, and settlement of war legacy in Vietnam.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and the Vietnamese delegation at the ASEAN - RoK Deputy Defense Ministers’ Meeting |
Earlier, RoK Deputy Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul chaired the ASEAN - RoK Deputy Defense Ministers’ Meeting which has been held annually since 2017 according to the RoK Ministry of National Defense’s initiative. The meeting aims to create a channel for ASEAN and the RoK to exchange and strengthen defense ties.
ASEAN head delegates highly praised achievements in the two sides’ relationship over the past time, particularly defense cooperation. They highly appreciated the RoK’s active, proactive and responsible participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms, especially the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+). They also believed that the RoK and Malaysia will successfully perform their duties as co-chairs of ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on Cyber Security in the 2021-2024 period.
Head delegates of ASEAN countries emphasized that the RoK has strengths in information technology, military medicine, maritime security, defense industry, to name but a few. Therefore, they hoped that the two sides will bolster their partnership in these fields to deepen the ASEAN - RoK defense relations.
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A view of the ASEAN - RoK Deputy Defense Ministers’ Meeting on September 6 |
Confirming that enhancing cooperation with ASEAN continues to be a priority of the RoK Government, the RoK head delegate noted the action plan on ASEAN - RoK defense ties for freedom, peace, and prosperity, with a focus on prioritized areas, such as personnel training, maritime security, peacekeeping, military medicine, and defense industry.
In his speech, Vietnamese head delegate stressed that as the coordinator of the ASEAN - RoK relationship in the 2021-2024 period, Vietnam wishes to promote the ASEAN - RoK defense relations, focusing on enhancing contacts, maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms in order to exchange views on issues of common concern and build trust; and supporting the RoK’s priorities in strengthening relations with ASEAN in response to non-traditional security challenges such as counterterrorism, cyber security, and marine security.
Translated by Mai Huong