On behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh warmly welcomed Senior Lieutenant General Alvaro Lopez Miera and the Cuban delegation to Vietnam to attend the dialogue. He stressed that this trip demonstrated the determination of both sides in implementing cooperation agreements reached by the two countries’ Party, State and military leaders during their trips to each country over the past time, thus contributing to bringing the Vietnam-Cuba defense cooperation to a new height in an intensive and effective manner.
At the dialogue, the two sides discussed the situation in each country as well as in the region and the world. Together, they evaluated the implementation of defense cooperation contents agreed by the two ministries of defense in the second Vietnam-Cuba defense dialogue.
They also worked out orientations to promote the bilateral cooperation in the coming time, and discussed the implementation of a dossier on 60 years of history of the Vietnam-Cuba defense cooperation (1960-2020).
Both sides evaluated that the Vietnam-Cuba bilateral defense cooperation has continued to develop in an intensive manner, which is highly appreciated by the leaders of the two countries and is considered a pillar of bilateral cooperation. They agreed to continue effectively realizing the defense cooperation plan for the 2017-2019 period and build a new plan for the 2020-2022 period.
They also reached a high consensus on promoting the exchange of delegations at all levels. Vietnam hopes to welcome the Minister of the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to visit the country, sign the cooperation plan for the 2020-2022 period, and join an online exchange with historical witnesses who have had great contributions to the development of the defense relations of the two countries over the past 60 years.
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The two sides' delegates in a joint photo |
Leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense have also planned to visit Cuba to announce a book and a film on the 60-year history of the Vietnam-Cuba defense partnership, join a meeting to mark the anniversary, and further strengthen the cooperation in military medicine on the basis of the signed agreements. Vietnam will send experts to Cuba and invite Cuban experts to Vietnam to exchange experience in acupuncture and treatment of back and muscle pain.
In terms of cyber-security, Vietnam is ready to share its experience in dealing with threats in the cyberspace, and in building and developing infrastructure for IT application, solutions and measures to protect network safety, Vinh said.
Regarding the dossier on the 60-year history of the Vietnam-Cuba defense relation, including a book and a documentary film, the two sides determined that this is an important political task assigned by the leaders of the two Parties and States to the two ministries of defense. The dossier is expected to promote information dissemination on the traditional friendship between the two peoples and the two militaries, especially among the youth. Therefore, they are determined to complete the dossier in 2020 on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations.
The result of the third Vietnam-Cuba defense dialogue is an important basis for the two sides’ defense cooperation in the 2020-2022 period, thereby orientating a new stage for bilateral defense relations and contributing to strengthening the good traditional friendship of the two countries.
Translated by Lam Anh