Defense cooperation is a pillar of the Vietnam-Australia strategic relationship.

Within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Australia, on March 5, in Melbourne, Australia, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Mr. Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister of Defense of Australia, on behalf of the two governments signed the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement, replacing the Agreement on the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation in the Peacekeeping Field signed in 2015.

The Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement was signed in the context of Vietnam and Australia upgrading their relations during the official visit to Australia by the Prime Minister of Vietnam. Both sides agreed that the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement is of great significance in bilateral cooperation on Peacekeeping between Vietnam and Australia, for the noble goal, imbued with humane and humanitarian significance, for the happy and peaceful lives of people affected by wars and conflicts in the world.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Sir Matt Thistlethwaite at the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony.

This document will continue to create an important legal framework for the two sides to enhance defense cooperation in general and cooperation in the field of peacekeeping in particular to a new height, for peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that in the context of the Vietnam-Australia friendship and cooperation being constantly strengthened and developed, defense cooperation is always a pillar of the Vietnam-Australia strategic relationship, in which cooperation in the field of peacekeeping is a bright spot.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Australia has always been a reliable partner, providing early and effective support to Vietnam in preparing forces to participate in UN peacekeeping operations since 2011. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense especially appreciates Australia's language and skills training, experience sharing, as well as support for the safe transportation of Vietnam's five Level 2 Field Hospitals to and from the Mission in South Sudan.

Australian Assistant Minister of Defense Matt Thistlethwaite highly appreciated the significance of the recently signed Agreement, expressed his joy at the positive development of Vietnam-Australia relations, and highly appreciated the two countries' defense cooperation in bilateral relations.

The Australian Ministry of Defense always attaches importance to defense cooperation with Vietnam. The two sides will continue to promote cooperation in the coming time. The Australian Ministry of Defense will continue to support the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, including in the field of peacekeeping.

To put the contents of the Agreement into practice and substance, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the competent agencies of the two sides soon work to develop an implementation plan with specific measures.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Sir Matt Thistlethwaite exchanged gifts at the signing ceremony.

Also on the morning of March 5, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien led a delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to visit and work at the International Defense Training Center (DITC), Australia. DITC is affiliated with the Australian Defense Academy, providing training courses and supporting the enhancement of international cooperation of the Australian Ministry of Defense.

To date, DITC has received more than 700 officers from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense. Currently, there are 5 officers from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense studying English and 1 officer teaching here.

Expressing his impression of the facilities, living and learning conditions and training quality of the Center, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that the DITC International Defense Training Center is an ideal environment for international students to study, improve their English proficiency, and at the same time understand more about the country, people and culture of Australia.

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense highly appreciates the learning outcomes of Vietnamese students at DITC. Upon returning home, they have all successfully applied the knowledge they have learned to their professional fields, making an important contribution to Vietnam's international integration and defense diplomacy.

Delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam visited and worked at the International Defense Training Center DITC, Australia.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien also thanked the Board of Directors and lecturers of DITC over the years for their good feelings and knowledge transfer to Vietnamese students. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hopes that the Center will continue to pay attention, create better conditions, award more scholarships to Vietnamese students studying at the Center, and study and sign cooperation documents suitable to the needs and capabilities of both sides.

Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Martin, Commander of DITC, emphasized that the Center always appreciates the attention of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense as well as the spirit, capacity and learning results of Vietnamese students here. Training is a key area in Vietnam-Australia defense cooperation and the development of DITC will contribute positively to the defense cooperation between the two countries.

Meeting and exchanging with Vietnamese students studying at the Center, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien asked the students to strictly follow the Center's discipline, complete their study tasks well, promote the spirit of solidarity and friendship, and always be a bridge between Vietnam and Australia, as well as international friends studying here.

Quan Khanh

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