Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and his Australian counterpart Christopher Pyne ink the Vietnam-Australia Declaration on Joint Visions for Enhancing Defence Cooperation on November 8 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Embassy of Australia in Vietnamcelebrated the 20th anniversary of the two countries’ defencerelations at a ceremony in Hanoi on November 27.
The event was attended by Deputy Director of the Vietnam People’s Army(VPA)’s General Department of Politics, Lieutenant General Le Hien Van,gathering Vietnamese military personnel who used to visit or receive trainingin Australia under defence cooperation programmes.
In his remarks, Van said Vietnam – Australia relations have seenconstant progress since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in February,1973, adding that bilateral defence cooperation in recent years has flourishedin multiple areas, particularly exchange of visits, consultancy and dialogue,training, UN peacekeeping missions, air and naval operation andcounter-terrorism.
He noted that cooperation in training has laid a solid foundation forthe two defence ministries to expand their ties.
Australia is the leading native English speaking provider of languageand professional development courses for Vietnamese service personnel, theofficer said.
He expected the event would be an opportunity for military officersfrom Vietnam to pay tribute to their Australian lecturers.
Defence relations between Vietnam and Australia wereformalised in February 1999, when an Australian Defence Attaché was posted toHanoi.
The Vietnam – Australia Defence relationship hasdeveloped significantly since the Memorandum of Understanding for DefenceCooperation was signed by the two Defence Ministers in November 2010. Australiahas begun to engage the VPA in practical activities, such as limited trainingactivities between the two Navies and Special Forces personnel, according tothe Australian Embassy in Vietnam.
Since 2012, an annual joint Foreign Affairs/DefenceAustralia-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue has been held at Deputy-Secretary and Vice-Ministerlevels.
Australia has also led in providing English languageand specialist training to VPA peacekeepers in 2014 prior to their inaugural UNpeacekeeping deployment to South Sudan.
Vietnam hosted the sixth round of the Dialogue on 10October 2018. The two nations also conduct annual Australia-VietnamDefence Cooperation Senior Officials' talks.
Earlier this month, the two sides inked theDeclaration on Joint Visions for Enhancing Defence Cooperation during a visitof Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich to Australia. –VNA
The sixth deputy ministerial-level strategic dialogue on foreign affairs and defence between Vietnam and Australia took place in Hanoi on October 10, chalking out plans to boost the bilateral strategic partnership.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on November 7 hosted a reception for Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia Michael Gunner who is on a visit to Vietnam from November 6-9.
The friendship parliamentarian groups of Vietnam and Australia should promote activities linking the two nations and help boost bilateral ties, stated Nguyen Hanh Phuc, General Secretary and Chairman of the National Assembly Office.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and his Australian counterpart Christopher Pyne ink the Vietnam-Australia Declaration on Joint Visions for Enhancing Defence Cooperation on November 8 (Photo: VNA) 
