Vietnam, Australia hold 6th defense policy dialogue

PANO - The sixth Vietnam - Australia defense policy dialogue was held in Hanoi on May 12 under the co-chair of Deputy Defense Minister Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Mr. Hugh Jeffrey, Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy and Industry at Australian Department of Defense.

Vietnam and Australia stand side by side in U.N. peacekeeping operations

Defense leader receives outgoing and new Australian defense attachés

A highlight of Vietnam-Australia defense ties: Australian defense attaché

Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (right) and Mr. Hugh Jeffrey

During the dialogue, Gen. Chien expressed the delight at the active and practical development in the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership in different fields, contributing to peace, stability, and common development.

Stressing the dialogue as an important cooperation mechanism, Gen. Chien said that it was a chance for the two defense ministries to share viewpoints on international issues of mutual concern and give orientations to boost the efficiency of the bilateral defense ties, thereby further deepening the two countries’ relations, especially in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 50 years of their diplomatic ties.

Agreeing with Gen. Chien, Mr. Hugh Jeffrey emphasized that the dialogue gave both sides an opportunity to share their common vision on regional situations and enhancement of the bilateral defense relations. He affirmed that Australia always treasures the partnership with Vietnam and thanks the country for their support to the development of ASEAN - Australia relations.

An overview of the dialogue

At the event, the two sides voiced their views on regional and international situations of common concern, such as security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (South China Sea). Both officials underlined that peace, stability, and common development are the interest of all countries worldwide and disagreements, disputes, and conflicts should be addressed by peaceful means on the basis of abiding by international laws, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. They heightened ASEAN centrality as well.

The two sides highly appreciated the achievements in the bilateral defense ties over the past time. Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, defense activities have been implemented, reaping good outcomes in such fields as dialogue - consultation, U.N. peacekeeping operations, training, including those in the English language, military medicine, maritime security, settlement of war legacy, delegation exchange, cooperation in regional and international defense cooperation forums and mechanisms, especially within the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

The two sides signing the dialogue's minutes

Both officials agreed to continue to carry out current cooperation contents and consider boosting cooperation in the fields that both sides have potential and needs. They consented to deepen the defense cooperation on the basis of existing fields, and promote the efficiency of dialogue and consultation mechanisms. Both reached agreement on pushing up the signing of a partnership agreement on peacekeeping and updating the joint vision statement on enhancing defense relations signed in 2018.

They also agreed to continue to further consult and cooperate with each other at multilateral mechanisms, particularly ADMM+, accelerate the ASEAN - Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.