During the visit, the Vietnamese defense minister had meetings with US National Security Advisor H.R McMaster and Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer.
At the meetings, General Lich briefed the US officials on results of his talks with US Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) received at the US Department of Defense
The two sides highly valued the results of bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the US over the past time, particularly in the defense sphere, which is considered by both sides as an important part of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership. The two sides agreed that bilateral defense relations between Vietnam and the US are growing in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on Advancing Bilateral Defense Cooperation and Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations and within the framework of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.
The two sides also wished to further expand defense cooperation on par with the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s political system, national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the rest of the world.
Regarding future relations, the two sides discussed and agreed on measures to further strengthen cooperation within the framework of the signed agreements, with a focus on overcoming the war aftermath in Vietnam, responding to non-traditional security challenges and supporting each other in participating in UN peacekeeping operations. The two sides also hoped that bilateral defense cooperation will be bolstered toward practical outcomes, meeting interests of the two peoples and contributing significantly to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and world.
General Lich thanked the hosts for the esteemed and warm reception for the Vietnamese defense delegation. The guest highly valued the US cooperation with Vietnam on the fields of maritime security and UN peacekeeping operations.
The Vietnamese defense minister confirmed that Vietnam wishes to cooperate with the US in all fields, particularly defense cooperation, for interests of each country, and for peace, stability and development of the region and world.
Senior US officials highly appreciated and thanked Vietnam for its effective cooperation with the US on searching and repatriating US servicemen missing in action in Vietnam, and said that they would boost cooperation with Vietnam on overcoming consequences of the war, responding to non-traditional security issues and supporting the country’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
The Vietnamese defense minister’s visit has contributed to strengthening friendship and trust between the two militaries and peoples, and creating a new momentum for bilateral defense cooperation in the future in accordance with agreements between leaders of the two countries and in line with the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.
Translated by Thu Nguyen