Hanoi (VNA) - The recent strong development of international integration and defence diplomacy has contributed to improving national defence strength and potential and affirming prestige and position of Vietnam and its army in the international arena, hear a conference in Hanoi on August 28.

The conference was held by the Defence Ministry’s Central Military Commission to review the internationalintegration and defence diplomacy work during 2015-2018.

Addressingthe event, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commissionand Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich emphasised important achievements andchanges of the work in the period, affirming that the Party and State consider thisone of highlights of the army.

He applauded efforts by agencies and units in the whole army in implementingthe work, while requesting them to continue to promote characteristics andadvantages of international integration and defence diplomacy in buildingstrategic trust with other countries.

He also asked for more efforts to create a solid defence-security-foreignrelations front under the leadership of the Party and the State management,thus contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, andpromoting the prestige and position of Vietnam and its army.

Theconference heard that officers and soldiers serving in the army have been moredeeply aware of the roles and importance of the international integration anddefence diplomacy, which are a crucial part of the national safeguardingstrategy.

Participants focused on discussing outstanding results and lessons,as well as pointed out difficulties and limitations in the implementation ofinternational integration and defence diplomacy in the period.

They also recommended and proposed specific directions and solutions for implementingthe international integration and defence diplomacy plan in 2018-2020.

Delegates agreed that the work should follow the Party andState's foreign policy and attach importance to bilateral defence cooperationwith key partners, towards making established relations between Vietnam andforeign countries more practical and effective.

Vietnam needs to actively participate in multilateral defencecooperation mechanisms within ASEAN and those led by ASEAN.

The Defence Ministry was required to actively deploy the project of joining UNpeacekeeping missions and make all-round preparations to ensure the successfulorganisation of defence diplomatic activities in 2020 when Vietnam assumes therole as Chair of ASEAN.

Attention should be paid to promptly completing legal documents related tointernational integration and defence diplomacy, participants said.

Onthe occasion, the Defence Ministry presented certificates of merit to units andindividuals for their contributions to the international integration and defencediplomacy work in 2015-2018.-VNA