At the event, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that since the 6th dialogue, the Vietnam-Australia defense cooperation has achieved many practical results in such areas as exchange of delegations, education and training, dialogue and consultation, United Nations peacekeeping operations, defense industry, military medicine, and settlement of war legacy. The two sides have also fostered collaboration between arms and services and cooperation and support at multilateral forums.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien at the 7th Vietnam-Australia Defense Policy Dialogue |
Hugh Jeffrey affirmed that Australia always treasures the cooperation with Vietnam. He highly appreciated Vietnam's role in the region as well as the upgrading of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Australian official emphasized that the two defense ministries’ signing of the partnership agreement on peacekeeping on behalf of the two governments would contribute to bringing bilateral relations to a new height.
During the dialogue, the two sides agreed that in the coming time, the two defense ministries will continue their close coordination to effectively carry out existing cooperation mechanisms, promote cooperation in key areas, such as exchange of delegations, dialogue and consultation, education and training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, defense industry, and settlement of war legacy, among others.
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Deputy Secretary of Strategy, Policy, and Industry at the Australian Department of Defense Hugh Jeffrey co-chairs the event. |
The Vietnamese deputy defense minister suggested Australia increase slots for English training and other majors of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense’s needs; develop a plan to actualize the partnership agreement on peacekeeping and provide support of equipment to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations. He said that the two sides should strengthen consultation, coordination, and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), contributing to enhancing the ASEAN-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.
At the event, the two sides also shared view on international and regional issues of mutual concern. Gen. Chien affirmed that Vietnam is always consistent in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations and being friend with all countries around the world; four no's defense policy. Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, he reiterated that Vietnam consistently pursues resolving all disputes at sea by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and other commitments in the region.
Gen. Chien took the occasion to invite leaders of the Australian Department of Defense and defense enterprises to attend the second Vietnam International Defense Expo in December.
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The two sides sign the minutes of the dialogue. |
At the end of the dialogue, the two sides signed the minutes of the 7th Vietnam-Australia Defense Policy Dialogue and the list of defense cooperation activities in 2024 between the two defense ministries.
Translated by Tran Hoai