Organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the dialogue has brought together more than 550 delegates who are defense and security officers and scholars from 41 countries.
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Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (second from left) attends the dialogue. |
The event, lasting until June 4, features seven plenary sessions and six special sessions that touch upon various issues like security in cyberspace competition, challenges to developing military capacity in Asia-Pacific, nuclear threats and challenges to regional security, and defense cooperation trends in Indo-Pacific.
On the sidelines of the dialogue, Hoang Xuan Chien met with leaders of defense ministries and head delegates of some participating countries, including Chinese Minister of National Defense Sr. Lt. Gen. Li Shangfu.
Generals Chien and Li shared the view that the Vietnam-China defense cooperation has received attention of all-level leaders of both sides, saying it is growing practically and becomes an important pillar of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Gen. Li stressed that the defense cooperation has been further implemented in line with the common perceptions reached by high-ranking leaders of the two countries, especially after the official visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.
Gen. Chien suggested the two sides continue with delegation exchanges and other collaboration activities in border and sea management and defense, and soon organize the eighth Border Defense Friendship Exchange, and the defense strategic dialogue.
At a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Donald Marles, the two officials noted that the bilateral defense ties have made new strides in all fields, from delegation exchange to training and maritime security, especially U.N. peacekeeping operations.
They consented to maintain cooperation in the agreed areas, firstly accelerating the signing of an agreement on the partnership in peacekeeping, and upgrading the Joint Vision for Enhancing Defense Cooperation.
Gen. Chien used this occasion to thank Australia for its support in transporting Vietnam’s level-2 field hospitals to U.N. peacekeeping missions.
In this regard, Marles affirmed that Australia will help the Southeast Asian nation transport its level-2 field hospital rotation 5 to South Sudan later this month.
Meeting with Japanese Vice Minister of Defense Masami Oka, Gen. Chien called on the Japanese side to further assist Vietnam in peacekeeping operations in terms of training and experience sharing.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese officer also had meetings with representatives of the Singaporean Ministry of Defense, and Assistant Deputy Minister of Canada Peter Hammerschmidt.
Source: VNA