Welcoming the French delegation to Vietnam on the occasion of the second Vietnam-France defense strategic and cooperation dialogue, General Giang affirmed that since the two countries established their strategic partnership in 2013, the bilateral relationship has been increasingly consolidated and promoted in many fields such as politics, economy, national defense-security, culture and science-technology. Particularly, both sides have attached much importance to defense cooperation.
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General Phan Van Giang receiving Ms. Alice Guitton |
Especially, bilateral defense cooperation has been bolstered after the official visit to France by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last November. Currently, the two sides are implementing various activities towards the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership.
The Vietnamese defense minister believed that in the coming time, the defense relationship between Vietnam and France would continue to be fostered on the basis of each nation’s needs and situation.
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General Phan Van Giang presents a souvenir to Ms. Alice Guitton. |
For her part, Ms. Guitton thanked General Giang for his reception, hoping that in the time ahead, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense will boost cooperation in the areas agreed at the second Vietnam-France defense strategic and cooperation dialogue.
* Earlier, Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Ms. Guitton co-chaired the second Vietnam-France defense strategic and cooperation dialogue.
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At the second Vietnam-France defense strategic and cooperation dialogue |
At the dialogue, both sides reviewed defense cooperation since July 2019 and discussed cooperation orientations in the coming time.
Despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bilateral defense cooperation has been implemented with good results in some fields such as delegation exchange, training, medical military, defense industry, U.N. peacekeeping operations, settlement of war consequences, among others.
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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Ms. Alice Guitton co-chair the dialogue. |
Regarding the bilateral defense cooperation, the two sides have closely and effectively worked together and supported each other at multilateral international forums and organizations. Particularly, defense cooperation between Vietnam and the E.U. has been increasingly strengthened thanks to France’s support. Vietnam has always backed France’s efforts to contribute to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation for mutual development in the region, willing to help France strengthen ties with ASEAN.
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Ms. Alice Guitton during the dialogue |
Also at the event, the two sides agreed to effectively develop their bilateral defense cooperation on the basis of the joint vision statement on Vietnam-France defense cooperation in the 2018-2028 period and the revised Agreement on Defense Cooperation between Vietnam and France with the focus on delegation exchanges, U.N. peacekeeping operations, and young officer exchanges, to name but a few.
On this occasion, the two sides also exchanged mutual concern over the world and regional situations. Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issues, the two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.
At the end of the dialogue, both sides inked the dialogue minutes.
Translated by Minh Anh