The People’s Army Newspaper would like to present an interview with Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of National Defense, on the visit of the Vietnamese delegation to Moscow on this occasion.
Reporter: Could you please tell us about the goal and significance of the participation of the Vietnamese high-ranking military delegation in the seventh Moscow Conference on International Security?
Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang: The Vietnamese high-ranking military delegation led by General Ngo Xuan Lich is participating in the conference in the context that the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in general, and the bilateral defense ties in particular, have been developing dynamically and effectively. The Moscow Conference on International Security, the proven prestigious and important forum for discussion of global security issues, has contributed to promoting peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world. Therefore, the visit to Moscow to attend the conference this time of General Ngo Xuan Lich and the delegation will once again reaffirm Vietnam’s active and proactive role as well as high sense of responsibility in dealing with regional and global issues. The trip will also help express Vietnam’s position on security and development issues that capture the interest of the whole world, as well as Vietnam's support for the host Russia in successfully organizing the conference.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese Defense Minister will meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoygu, with the aim of further bolstering the bilateral defense ties based on the results yielded during the visit to Vietnam of the Russian defense minister last January. This is also the chance for the two sides to continue to discuss new contents and measures to further promote bilateral defense cooperation and to further strengthen the friendly relations between the two militaries in line with the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.
Reporter: Could you share the significance of previous conferences and the role of Vietnam at those events?
Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang: The Moscow Conference on International Security was held for the first time in 2012 at the initiative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. This annual conference, with the participation of defense leaders and military experts of various countries and prestigious organizations, serves as a forum for military experts to discuss global security issues and find effective solutions.
Vietnam was invited to the conference at its third version and the country has since sent leaders of the defense ministry to the forum. That Vietnam is invited to this international-level conference points to the fact that the global community has paid special attention to the role and position of Vietnam in the region. In 2016, right after taking office, General Ngo Xuan Lich attended the conference and delivered a key note themed “Security Challenges and Possibilities for International Defense Cooperation in Asia-Pacific” which was highly valued both domestically and internationally. The two day conference this time with five plenary sessions will discuss “pressing” global security issues. General Ngo Xuan Lich is expected to give his speech at the plenary session of “Asia - Aspects of Regional Security”, highlighting emerging challenges and threats in the Asia-Pacific region so as to place stress on the need to enhance cooperation via multilateral mechanisms to deal with those challenges and threats.
Reporter: What should be the direction for the Vietnam-Russia defense cooperation in the coming time, Lieutenant General?
Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang: After the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu to Vietnam last January, the two defense ministers agreed that Vietnam and Russia should promote the sharing of views on defense and security issues of mutual concern and further boost cooperation in traditional areas, including military technical cooperation, on the basis of effectiveness, equality and mutual understanding. Besides, bilateral defense ties should be expanded and deepened to be on par with the development of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. The cooperation would include delegation exchanges, naval training, UN peacekeeping operations, exchange of experience in military legal issues, military medicine, etc.
We have firm ground to believe in the ever-developing defense cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the coming time with more substantial results, for the mutual interests of the two peoples and for peace and stability in the region and the world.
Reporter: Thank you very much!
Reported by Ngoc Ha
Translated by Huu Duong