The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Italy’s Undersecretary of State for Defense, Matteo Perego di Cremnago.
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Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien and Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago |
The Vietnamese deputy defense minister noted that the bilateral ties have grown in a practical and effective manner, in line with previously signed agreements. Key areas of collaboration include delegation exchanges, particularly at high levels, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, military training, defense industry, and United Nations peacekeeping operations.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien speaks at the event. |
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The Vietnamese delegation at the dialogue |
General Chien emphasized that the Vietnamese MND is willing to welcome Italian officers to attend international defense courses at the National Defense Academy and Vietnamese language training courses at the Military Science Academy. On this occasion, he sincerely thanked Undersecretary of State Perego di Cremnago and the Italian Ministry of Defense delegation, as well as representatives from leading defense industry enterprises, for their presence at the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024.
For his part, Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago expressed his pleasure in meeting General Chien and co-chairing the dialogue. He thanked the Vietnamese MND for the warm welcome and praised the success of the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024. Undersecretary of State Perego di Cremnago affirmed that both Italy and Vietnam share a common vision on global affairs, a desire for peace and stability in the region and the world, a commitment to international missions, and a mutual interest in developing new technologies.
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Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago at the event |
General Chien suggested that both sides continue to explore the possibility of signing further cooperation documents; promote delegation exchanges at all levels; expand cooperation in training, defense industry, and U.N. peacekeeping; and enhance dialogue and consultation mechanisms to build mutual understanding and trust. He also called for closer coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the U.N. and within the ASEAN–European Union framework. He urged Italy to support Vietnam by advocating for the early removal of the E.U.’s IUU “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood and in advancing defense cooperation with the E.U. under the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA).
The head of the Vietnamese delegation stressed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralization of relations; follows a “four no's” defense policy (no partaking in military alliance; no siding with one country to act against another; no foreign military bases in the Vietnamese territory or using Vietnam as leverage to counteract other countries; and no use force or threatening to use force in international relations).
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A view of the fifth Vietnam–Italy Defense Policy Dialogue |
Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issues, he reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering view of resolving all disputes and disagreements through peaceful means, based on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Vietnam remains committed to international and regional agreements such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and supports the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC).
Undersecretary of State for Defense Perego di Cremnago noted that Italy has expertise in mine clearance and is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in this field. He emphasized Italy’s keen interest in further strengthening defense cooperation with Vietnam and expressed hope for even more practical and substantial development in bilateral ties.
The Italian official expressed confidence that the success of this dialogue would further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and significantly promote the Vietnam–Italy strategic partnership.
At the end of the dialogue, the two sides signed the minutes and the Letter of Intent on establishing a bilateral working group on defense equipment cooperation.
Translated by Tran Hoai