5th Vietnam-UK Defense Policy Dialogue

At the dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that the Defense Policy Dialogue is a strategic-level exchange mechanism, an opportunity for the two countries' Defense Ministries to review the cooperation results from the 4th Defense Policy Dialogue, and agree on the direction of cooperation in the coming time, especially in the context of the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership being promoted by the leaders of the two countries. In particular, defense cooperation continues to be an important element in the overall relationship between the two countries.

Comrade Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that over the past time, the Vietnam-UK defense cooperation relationship has been implemented in the right direction, in line with the results of the 4th Vietnam-UK Defense Policy Dialogue and the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defense cooperation (signed in 2017), achieving many positive results.

Notably, the following areas stand out: exchange of delegations at all levels; effective maintenance of cooperation mechanisms, especially the annual Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism; maritime security and safety; hydrography... Notably, training cooperation, especially language training, is a bright spot in defense cooperation between the two countries in recent times.

On this occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien sincerely thanked the UK Ministry of Defence for annually providing training, supporting training, English language training, and improving professional capacity for Vietnamese officers and staff. In addition, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence highly appreciated the UK's active support in cooperation on UN peacekeeping.

Comrade Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that in the coming time, the two sides continue to promote defense cooperation in line with the Strategic Partnership between the two countries: continue to effectively maintain consultation and dialogue mechanisms as well as exchange delegations at all levels, especially high-level delegations, to enhance understanding, trust and promote defense cooperation; strengthen training cooperation, promote cooperation between military academies and schools of the two countries.

At the same time, we hope that the British Ministry of Defense will continue to provide specialized training courses and send English language instructors to directly teach at the Academy of Military Science. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is ready to receive British soldiers to study Vietnamese at the Academy of Military Science and attend the International Defense Officials Course at the Academy of National Defense.

In addition, the two sides continue to effectively implement cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking; military medicine; maritime security and safety; hydrography; defense industry; United Nations peacekeeping; research and promotion of cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam; cooperation between defense research institutes of the two sides...

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Mr. Vernon Coaker took a group photo with delegates.

Speaking at the dialogue, UK Minister of State for Defence Vernon Coaker shared his thoughts on the losses and damage caused by storm No. 3 in Vietnam.

Mr. Vernon Coaker said that not only defense relations but also cooperation in other fields has been actively implemented by both sides and achieved many good results. Affirming the important significance of defense cooperation, Mr. Vernon Coaker hoped that the relationship in this field between the UK and Vietnam will continue to be strengthened to bring more benefits to the two countries.

Mr. Vernon Coaker emphasized that in the coming time, the UK will strive to promote and direct relevant agencies to coordinate with agencies of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to fully implement the results of this Dialogue, in accordance with the strategic partnership between the two countries.

At the Dialogue, the two sides also discussed the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that Vietnam pursues a foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification, a national defense policy of peace and self-defense; firmly adheres to the policy of not joining military alliances; not aligning with one country to fight another; not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use Vietnamese territory to fight against other countries; and not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.

Vietnam always upholds the spirit of the rule of law, persistently struggles to resolve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and promotes negotiations on a substantive, effective Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, ensuring the legitimate interests of all relevant parties.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/doi-thoai-chinh-sach-quoc-phong-viet-nam-anh-lan-thu-5-post830678.html