Hanoi (VNA) – The sixth deputy ministerial-level strategic dialogue onforeign affairs and defence between Vietnam and Australia took place in Hanoi onOctober 10, chalking out plans to boost the bilateral strategic partnership.

TheVietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen QuocDung and the Australian side was headed by Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairsand Trade Richard Maude and Acting Deputy Secretary for Strategic Policy andIntelligence Tom Hamilton. The event was also attended by Major General DangQuang Minh, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies under theVietnamese Ministry of National Defence.

At thedialogue, both sides noted with pleasure the strong development of bilateralrelations after the two countries lifted the ties to the level of strategic partnershipin March 2018 and reiterated the important role and position of each country inthe other’s foreign policy.

Vietnamand Australia have increased the exchange of high-level visits this year, withthree from Vietnam and four from Australia, especially as the two nations havecelebrated the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Takinginto account the results of these visits and the joint action programme for2016-2019, the two sides discussed and outlined main directions to make their strategicpartnership more practical, effective, and comprehensive in the time ahead,particularly in the fields of politics, security-defence, economy, trade,investment, and science-technology.

Theyagreed to further consolidate their political trust through the exchange of all-levelvisits and foster bilateral economic cooperation by bringing each side’sadvantages into full play. They will also make full use of growing economiclinkages in the region, notably the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as accelerating the implementationof new mechanisms set up within the framework of the strategic partnership interms of diplomacy, defence, and economy to lay the ground for deepeningbilateral cooperation.

At thesame time, they discussed regional and global strategic issues of mutualconcern and stressed the need to give priority to joint projects related topeople-to-people exchange, education, labour, tourism, culture, and sports.

The twosides later moved on to exchange views on the regional situation, mentioningthe Asia-Pacific as a region with dynamic growth that has drawn a great deal ofinterest from major partners around the world.

Bothsides welcomed concerted efforts made by countries both in and outside theregion to strengthen collaboration and dialogue, as well as building trust forpeace, stability, and development in Asia-Pacific. They agreed to cementcooperation at regional organisations and forums, such as the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN RegionalForum (ARF), the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), and the ASEAN DefenceMinisters’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

The Australianside affirmed that it would continue coordinating closely with ASEAN and backingits efforts to tighten the intra-bloc solidarity, narrow development gaps, andpromote ASEAN’s centrality in the regional structure.

Bothsides voiced concern over emerging challenges, such as terrorism, transnationalcrimes, cyber security, energy security, climate change, and water security.They agreed to enhance information sharing and close cooperation within bothmultilateral and bilateral frameworks to minimise the negative impacts of thesechallenges.

On thisoccasion, Australia affirmed that it stands ready to share experience andsupports Vietnam when the Southeast Asian nation becomes a non-permanent memberof the UN Security Council in the 2020 -2021 tenure.

The twonations also expressed worries about escalating trade tensions that havehampered the growth of free trade in the region and the world. Vietnam welcomedthe Australian House of Representatives’ ratification of the CPTPP and informedthat Vietnam is striving to approve the deal in 2018, thus helping it to comeinto force soon.

Discussingthe recent situation in the East Sea, both sides highlighted the importance ofmaintaining peace, stability as well as security, safety and freedom ofnavigation and aviation. They emphasised the need to strictly observeinternational law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS), and to peacefully settle disputes without the use of, orthreat to use, force. They emphasised the necessity to promote the full implementationof the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and acceleratethe conclusion of an effective, practical and legally-binding Code of Conductin the East Sea (COC).

The twosides agreed to hold the next Vietnam-Australia deputy ministerial-level dialogueon foreign affairs and defence in Australia in 2019.–VNA