This year’s CHOD Conference was co-hosted by USINDOPACOM and the Royal Thai Armed Forces. With the theme “Peace Through Strength – Ensuring Security and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” the event featured four plenary sessions focusing on subregional threat awareness; studies on non-traditional security threats; emerging technological solutions; collective responsibility for deterrence; and a working luncheon discussing the global impacts of Indo-Pacific security.
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Delegates attending CHOD Conference pose for a group photo. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Thai Dai Ngoc attends the conference. |
On the sidelines of the conference, the head of the Vietnamese delegation held bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations from the U.S., Thailand, India, Japan, and the U.K.
During his meeting with Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of USINDOPACOM, General Ngoc underscored that Vietnam – U.S. defense cooperation has been implemented in line with overall bilateral relations and existing agreements, with USINDOPACOM making significant contribution. He expressed hope that in the future, USINDOPACOM would have a voice so that the U.S. Government and Department of Defense would continue to realize commitments on war legacy settlement in Vietnam.
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The Vietnamese deputy chief of the General Staff meeting with General Songwit Noonpackdee |
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Delegates of Vietnam and Thailand in a joint photo |
In talks with General Songwit Noonpackdee, Chief of Defense Forces of Thailand, the Vietnamese deputy chief of the General Staff suggested the two militaries focus on areas, such as delegation exchanges, naval cooperation, maritime safety and security, and cybersecurity.
Meeting with Lieutenant General Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defense Staff of India, he praised the outcomes of Vietnam – India defense cooperation and proposed close coordination to successfully organize the upcoming bilateral field exercise on U.N. peacekeeping operations.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Thai Dai Ngoc at the bilateral meeting with Lt. Gen. Ashutosh Dixit |
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Vietnamese and Indian delegates in a joint photo |
At his bilateral meeting with General Uchikura Hiroaki, Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, General Ngoc suggested that Japan actively promote the early signing of cooperation documents between the two defense ministries. He also hoped that the Japanese Ministry of Defense would work with relevant ministries and agencies to support cooperation in maritime law enforcement capacity building, as well as in war legacy settlement efforts (UXO clearance and chemical decontamination) through ODA loans and non-refundable aid projects provided by the Japanese Government.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Thai Dai Ngoc meeting with General Uchikura Hiroaki |
In his meeting with General Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff of the U.K., the head of the Vietnamese delegation proposed maintaining effective dialogue mechanisms and delegation exchanges, particularly at the senior level; promoting training cooperation; and accelerating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two defense ministries on U.N. peacekeeping cooperation. He also emphasized the importance of continued mutual support and consultation at international security mechanisms and forums.
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The head of the Vietnamese delegation and General Gwyn Jenkins |
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General Ngoc hands over a souvenir to General Gwyn Jenkins. |
Translated by Tran Hoai