At the meeting, General Lich and Ms. Mogherini highly valued the joint efforts to build up a win-win partnership for the socio-economic development of Vietnam and the EU since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1990.
Particularly, Vietnam and the EU have signed a number of documents, such as the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Framework Agreement (PCA), which took effect from 2016, and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in 2019, whereby the two sides could jointly implement commitments to promote efforts for peace and jurisdiction via multilateral approaches and cooperation, including defense-security cooperation.
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At the talks between General Ngo Xuan Lich and Ms. Federica Mogherini |
General Lich and Ms. Mogherini exchanged views on developing the Vietnam-EU relationship in the field of defense-security on the basis of international law and their common commitments. It will be carried out through the improvement of cooperation mechanisms and frameworks, contributing to peace, stability, and development in each region and the world as well as to the implementation of Vietnam’s International Integration Strategy and the EU’s Global Strategy.
The bilateral ties and cooperation in defense-security will uphold and ensure principles and fundamental rights in accordance with the Charter of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, making contribution to maintaining the international system on the basis of principles suitable with the International Humanitarian Law, to which Vietnam and the EU are members, while effectively enhancing multilateral cooperation to boost regional stability and peaceful and sustainable solutions to conflicts.
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General Ngo Xuan Lich and Ms. Federica Mogherini witness the signing a memorandum of understanding on EU's technical support for the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations. |
The two sides pledged to promote cooperation for specific outcomes in addressing common security challenges in Asia and other areas by fully implementing resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.
As for crisis management, General Lich and Ms. Mogherini applauded the final outcomes of the negotiations on the establishment of the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA), facilitating Vietnam’s participation in the EU’s crisis management activities. Besides, Vietnam and the EU will foster cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations, including capacity building and training cooperation through training courses.
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General Ngo Xuan Lich presents a gift to Ms. Federica Mogherini |
Both sides agreed to beef up their participation in protecting freedom of navigation and aviation and coping with traditional and non-traditional challenges such as search and rescue, piracy, armed crimes, organized crimes and smuggling, in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).
Meanwhile, the two officials agreed that the maintenance of cyber security will foster a global open, free-of-charge, stable, and safe cyber space. They exchanged experience in cyber security, including the Convention on Cybercrime of the Council of Europe (known as the Budapest Convention), the application of international law in cyber space and the implementation of the standards for responsible behaviors of countries worldwide.
They consented that Vietnam-EU defense-security cooperation is to promote mutual understanding, to support the ASEAN-led regional security architecture and other multilateral security cooperation arrangements in Asia, and to assist the capacity-building, training, and cooperation mechanisms on crisis management in the region in the current context.
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The two sides' delegates in a group photo |
The host underlined that the Vietnamese Defense Ministry backed the EU’s wish to participate in Asia-Pacific defense-security architectures. Meanwhile, the guest emphasized that the EU hoped Vietnam would make more contributions to peace, stability, and development in the region when the country takes the ASEAN Chair in 2020.
Regarding the Vietnam-EU PCA, both sides agreed to establish regular consultations on defense-security to ensure effective implementation of the bilateral cooperation and partnership in this field.
Finally, General Lich and Ms. Mogherini witnessed a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on sending EU’s experienced peacekeeping experts to Vietnam to provide technical support for the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Defense Ministry.
Translated by Van Hieu