Speaking at the event, General Chien held that the fourth Vietnam- Australia defense policy dialogue took place in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic in both countries and the world as a whole. He hoped that the two sides would share international and regional issues of mutual concern and discuss measures to lift the defense cooperation to a new level.
In turn, Mr. Tesch expressed his delight at taking part in the dialogue and repeated that the bilateral defense ties have been fruitfully developed over the past time.
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Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien chairing the event |
He held that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to all countries worldwide. These challenges also cause risks to countries in maintaining national interests and sovereignty. The Australian defense official went on to say that the Australian government has highly appreciated Vietnam’s ASEAN Chair in 2020. The country has proposed numerous ideas to enhance solidarity among ASEAN members in coping with the pandemic’s negative impacts, he added.
At the dialogue, the two sides reviewed bilateral defense ties over past years and mapped out orientations for the bilateral cooperation in the future, noting that the two defense ministries pledged to continue promoting their ties within the framework of the two countries’ strategic partnership despite impacts of COVID-19.
The two sides’ defense leaders have maintained annual exchanges, particularly the recent meeting between the two ministers at the informal meeting of ASEAN - Australia defense ministers held for the first time in Hanoi.
Both sides spoke highly of the successes in their cooperation on English training and UN peacekeeping operations, thus helping Vietnam fulfil its UN commitment and reflecting its role and responsibility in the international community.
They hope to expand cooperation into several new areas, such as military medicine, cyber security, academic exchange, search and rescue, and defense industry.
Regarding regional and global issues of shared concern, they reached a consensus on the principle of respecting international law, settling disputes by peaceful means, and refraining from the use of or threat to use force.
On the occasion, General Chien thanked the Australian Department of Defense and the country’s military for promptly supporting Vietnam during the recent floods.
Translated by Trung Thanh