On the afternoon of May 2, General Ngo Xuan Lich hosted an official reception for Japanese Defense Minister and his entourage at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense. At the talks after the reception Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi lwaya thanked the Vietnamese leaders for sending congratulatory messages to Japan's new Emperor Naruhito, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne. He said this was his first overseas trip since Japan started the Reiwa Era. He also extended condolences to the Vietnamese people over the death of former President General Le Duc Anh.
On this occasion, the two sides exchanged views on regional and global situations, reviewed the outcomes of cooperation between the two defense ministries over the past time, and discussed approaches to foster bilateral defense cooperation in the coming time. The host and the guest also expressed delight at the strong and effective development of bilateral defense cooperation, an important part of the Vietnam – Japan extensive strategic partnership.
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General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi lwaya |
The two defense ministers affirmed that bilateral cooperation between the two countries has been expanded in line with the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Defense Cooperation and Exchanges signed in October 2011 and the Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation towards the next decade signed by the two defense ministries in April 2018, contributing positively to strengthening mutual political trust and ensuring national security of each country and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world as a whole.
The two ministers also reviewed the bilateral cooperation mechanisms and agreed that the deputy ministerial-level defense policy dialogue and consultations of army, naval, and air-force staff officers have been carried out effectively and their cooperation in training has been a spotlight of the bilateral defense cooperation. Over the past time, Japan has provided training courses for Vietnamese military personnel and exchanged with the Vietnamese side its experience in flight safety, aviation medicine, maritime medicine, aviation rescue, IT, and UN peacekeeping operations in a bid to raise Vietnamese officers’ professional competence in those fields.
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Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two sides |
Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya agreed to continue beefing up the bilateral defense cooperation toward more practical and effective outcomes, further promote the existing cooperation mechanisms, and strengthen defense ties in accordance with the signed agreements, especially the Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation towards the next decade. Other focused cooperation fields in the coming time are also personnel training, IT, UN peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and defense industry.
On this occasion, General Lich thanked the Japanese Government, agencies, and organizations for effectively assisting Vietnam in overcoming consequences of war and hoped that the Japan would continue providing support for Vietnam’s Defense Ministry in war consequence relief, maritime security, search and rescue, and UN peacekeeping operations.
After the talks, Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on orientations to strengthen cooperation in defense industry between the Vietnamese and Japanese defense ministries.
Translated by Tran Hoai