At the reception, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien congratulated Colonel Eugene Dudley on completing his term of office in Vietnam; highly appreciated Colonel Eugene Dudley's contributions during his tenure as South African Defense Attaché and Head of the Military Attaché Delegation of various countries in Vietnam, thereby contributing to promoting the Vietnam-South Africa defense cooperation relationship and effectively implementing the activities of the Military Attaché Delegation of various countries in Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Colonel Eugene Dudley at the reception.

Emphasizing that South Africa is one of Vietnam's active partners in Africa in the field of defense cooperation, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that in recent times, defense cooperation between the two countries has been promoted in accordance with the Agreement on defense relations signed in 2006. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides promote the early signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation, thereby creating new momentum to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, practically towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-South Africa diplomatic relations (1993-2023); effectively maintain consultation, dialogue, and delegation exchange mechanisms; promote cooperation in training, defense industry, military medicine, etc. in accordance with the potential and needs of each country. In particular, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation, share experiences in participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations and soon sign cooperation documents in this field.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien presented a souvenir to Colonel Eugene Dudley, South African Defense Attaché.

Colonel Eugene Dudley expressed his honor to work in Vietnam as the South African Defense Attaché and Head of the Military Attaché Delegation of the countries; at the same time, he said that in recent times, the defense cooperation between the two countries has achieved certain achievements. Colonel Eugene Dudley also thanked the relevant agencies of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for their support and cooperation during his time working in Vietnam and hoped that the Vietnam-South Africa relationship in general, and the defense cooperation between the two countries in particular, will continue to develop and become increasingly closely connected.

News and photos: ANH VU