At the reception, General Ngo Xuan Lich highly appreciated Vietnam - Indonesia defense cooperation over the past time, especially after the two defense ministries signed their joint vision on defense cooperation for the 2017-2022 period. On that basis, responsible agencies of the two sides have effectively implemented cooperation between arms and services such as the navies, air forces, and the coast guard forces.
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General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) receives Indonesian Vice Admiral Agus Setiadji. |
The Vietnamese general highly appreciated the defense policy dialogue that has been held for the first time between Vietnam and Indonesia. He stressed that this is an intensive cooperation mechanism, providing favorable conditions for high-ranking leaders of the two countries to share views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, evaluate bilateral defense cooperation and boost defense ties.
Minister Ngo Xuan Lich suggested that dialogue mechanisms, especially the defense policy dialogue and the joint working group at the defense relations department level, be closely maintained to help implement effectively contents agreed by the two sides.
As for the issue related to fishermen and fishing boats that violate the waters of each other’s side, General Ngo Xuan Lich suggested that the issue be dealt with on the humanitarian basis and friendship between the two militaries and peoples.
For his part, Vice Admiral Agus Setiadji highly valued the multifaceted cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Indonesia, including defense ties. He expressed joy to attend the first Vietnam - Indonesia Defense Policy Dialogue and stressed the importance of this mechanism to bilateral defense cooperation. The guest also informed the host of the results of the first Vietnam - Indonesia Defense Policy Dialogue and affirmed that such treatment toward violated fishermen would no longer occur in the coming time.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and Indonesian Vice Admiral Agus Setiadji co-chair the dialogue. |
* On the morning of the same day, Deputy Defense Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and Vice Admiral Agus Setiadji co-chaired the first Vietnam - Indonesia Defense Policy Dialogue.
On this occasion, the two sides shared their defense policies, exchanged notes on the security of the Asia-Pacific region, and discussed cooperation in the framework of the ADMM and ADMM+ and preparations for these meetings when Vietnam takes ASEAN chair in 2020. They also looked into cooperation over the past time, especially in the fields of delegation exchange, training, information exchange, as well as cooperation between arms and services and the coast guards.
To further boost bilateral cooperation in the coming time, the two sides also agreed to continue exchanging delegations at all levels, strengthening substantial cooperation activities between arms and services, and supporting each other at multilateral forums, especially when Vietnam takes ASEAN chair in 2020.
Concerning IUU fishing, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh shared difficulties of Indonesia in protecting its national sovereignty and held that due to their poor knowledge of laws, some Vietnamese fishermen violated the law of Indonesia and this is what Vietnam wishes to avoid. He affirmed that is because the fishermen just make their living, not intentionally violate the laws of both Vietnam and Indonesia.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (left) presents gift to Vice Admiral Agus Setiadji. |
Apart from that, General Vinh also put forwards a number of proposals to strengthen cooperation, including the building of partnership, cooperation enhancement, no-confrontation, establishment of mechanisms at the defense ministry, naval service and coast guard command levels to deal with crises, and more.
Vice Admiral Agus Setiadji highly agreed with the proposals of the host.
Translated by Huu Duong