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Maj. Gen. Vu Thanh Van speaks at the event. |
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Cosmin Dobran, Deputy Managing Director for Peace, Security, and Defense of EEAS |
The consultation was co-chaired by Major General Vu Thanh Van, Director of the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, and Cosmin Dobran, Deputy Managing Director for Peace, Security, and Defense of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
At the event, both sides assessed that in recent years, cooperation in the field of defense between Vietnam and the European Union (E.U.) and its member states has continued to move in the right direction, consistent with the framework of the Vietnam – E.U. Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the E.U. on Vietnam’s participation in E.U. crisis management operations. Cooperation has yielded positive outcomes in areas such as security and defense dialogue, training, United Nations peacekeeping, and war legacy.
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Delegates at the consultation |
Looking ahead, General Van expressed his hope that the Deputy Managing Director and the EEAS would continue to support and promote the effectiveness of the Vietnam – E.U. Security and Defense Dialogue mechanism. He also hoped that E.U. member states would maintain their current provision of scholarship opportunities to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND).
He affirmed that the Vietnamese MND is also ready to welcome E.U. military personnel to study Vietnamese at the Military Science Academy and to attend courses for international defense officers at the National Defense Academy.
Vietnam remains committed to exploring opportunities for cooperation in scientific research, technology development and transfer, and equipment for mine clearance and the disposal of explosives and toxic chemicals/dioxin left from the war. The country wishes to cooperate to seek methods to improve healthcare and medical support for victims, foster dissemination and capacity building, and facilitate international organizations in continuing their war legacy settlement projects in Vietnam.
The fourth Vietnam – E.U. Security and Defense Consultation concluded successfully. The outcomes agreed upon during the consultation will be reported to the competent authorities for approval, providing the foundation for increasingly practical and effective defense cooperation between the two sides.
Translated by Tran Hoai