Ministry of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

12/02/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/01/2021 20:45

Vietnam, Australia hold 5th defence policy dialogue

(Bqp.vn) - Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy, and Industry at the Australian Department of Defence Peter Tesch co-chaired the 5th Vietnam - Australia Defence Policy Dialogue in the form of videoconference on December 1.

At the dialogue in Hanoi.

The two sides affirmed that, despite difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the strategic partnership between the two countries, including defence cooperation has been maintained and promoted over the past time, actively contributing to peace, stability and common development in the region and in the world.

The two sides exchanged their views on the global and regional situations and issues of mutual concern, and shared a common stance on the East Sea issue.

They emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and of settling disputes at sea by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Delegates attending the dialogue in Hanoi.

In the coming time, the two sides agreed to continue to maintain and promote the defence cooperation, focusing on a number of areas, such as exchange of delegations, especially the high-level ones; training; UN peacekeeping operations; military medical cooperation, etc. They also agreed to approve a three-year bilateral defence cooperation plan for the period 2022 - 2024.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien chairing the dialogue in Hanoi.

Speaking at the dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highly appreciated the Australian Department of Defence's proposal of donating medical equipment and supplies for Vietnam. He hoped that Australia would continue to support Vietnam regarding UN peacekeeping operations.

For his part, Mr. Peter Tesch said that Australia committed to helping Vietnam transport its level-2 field hospital to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan in 2022 and to donating some equipment to improve the capacity of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien receiving Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien presenting a souvenir to Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie.

Earlier the same day, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hosted a reception for Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie.