At the meeting, both officials agreed that the bilateral defense ties over the past year have reaped important outcomes with same frequency and level as pre-COVID-19 pandemic period. Especially, in February this year, during President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Singapore, the two defense ministers signed an agreement on bilateral defense cooperation, creating a vital framework for the increased collaboration in the fields that each side has strengths.
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An overview of the dialogue |
They highlighted the efficiency of cooperation mechanisms, particularly dialogues, all-level delegation exchanges, experience and specialized information sharing, and young officers’ exchange.
General Chien thanked the Singaporean Ministry of Defense for granting scholarships to troops of the Vietnam People’s Army. In return, the Singaporean side expressed thanks to Vietnam for its active support for the country’s initiatives and hosted multilateral events.
Given the fact that the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations (1973-2023) and 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership (2013-2023), the two sides consented to further cooperation in exchange of all-level delegations, efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms, such as defense policy dialogue, personnel training, exchanges between the two navies, air forces, coast guard forces. They will also review and complete cooperation documents and agreements to enhance long-term cooperation and meet each side’s needs and capability. They will consider expanding cooperation in cyber security, maritime security, digital transformation, response to newly-emerged diseases, and actively consult with and support each other in the framework of ASEAN military and defense affairs.
Regarding regional and global situations, both sides said that Vietnam and Singapore are active and responsible in contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
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The two officials sign the cooperation plan for the 2023-2025 period. |
They reached agreement to continuously coordinate and maintain solidarity and ASEAN’s centrality in the regional security structure, promote dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN member states and with foreign partners for regional and global peace and stability.
Singaporean Permanent Secretary (Defense) Chan Heng Kee suggested the two sides strengthen their close coordination for common interests in the face of complicated and challenging developments of the situations in the region and the world.
Also at the dialogue, both officials shared viewpoints on issues of shared concern, such as the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, and non-traditional security challenges.
Saying thanks to the Singaporean Ministry of Defense for the thoughtful and respectful welcome, the Vietnamese deputy defense minister reiterated the invitation to his host, Mr. Chan Heng Kee, other leaders of the Singaporean Ministry of Defense, military, and businesses to the first Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022 slated for this December. He expressed his belief that the Singaporean side’s presence at the event will contribute to the general success of the expo.
As part of the defense policy dialogue, the two sides signed the cooperation plan for the 2023-2025 period.
Earlier, Gen. Chien met with Senior Minister of State for Defense Heng Chi How, during which the host stressed that the 13th Vietnam - Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue took place in the context that both governments and militaries are holding numerous practical activities on the threshold of 50 years of the two countries’ diplomatic ties, and 10 years of Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership.
The host said that the agreement on organizing the dialogue was a vivid expression of each side’s commitment to actualizing contents reached by senior leaders of the two countries and two defense ministries.
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At the meeting between visiting Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Senior Minister of State for Defense Heng Chi How. |
The Singaporean senior minister of state for defense expressed his delight at the results of the bilateral defense cooperation over the past time, especially the mutual support for each side’s initiatives and organized multilateral events. He spoke highly of Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang’s attendance and important remarks at Shangri-La Dialogue 2022.
For his part, General Chien underlined the constantly consolidated and developed relations between the two countries since they established their diplomatic ties. He also stressed that the two countries’ senior leaders always attach importance to the strategic partnership and maintain meetings and contact to discuss and orient bilateral relations.
The Vietnamese official highly praised the position, role, and active and pro-active participation of Singapore in general and its Ministry of Defense in particular in accelerating multilateral cooperation, particularly within ASEAN, thereby strengthening the intra-bloc solidarity and raising ASEAN’s position.
He suggested the two sides continue their close collaboration in and effective support for each side’s cooperation initiatives.
General Chien hoped that Singapore will strongly back Vietnam in the East Sea issue.
Translated by Mai Huong