Brussels (VNA) – Measures to boost security – defence cooperationbetween Vietnam and the European Union (EU) were discussed at the their firstever security – defence dialogue recently held in Brussels, Belgium.

At the event, both sides spoke highly of the cooperative ties in the field inrecent times, saying that the establishment of the security-defence dialoguefor the first time contributes to promoting mutual understanding and furtheringpractical and effective cooperation in the coming time.

They reviewed the regional and international issues of mutual interest, talkedover ways to carry out the EU-Vietnam Framework Participation Agreement (FPA)inked in October, as well as highlighted Vietnam’s prospects to engage in theEU’s crisis management activities.

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh, who co-chaired thedialogue, recommended Vietnam and the EU exchange and share experience invarious areas, while hailing the EU’s support for the training centre of theVietnam’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

He took the occasion to invite the EU and its member states to attend theconference on the roles of women in the UN’s peacekeeping mission that will be jointlyheld by Vietnam and the UN in 2020 when the Southeast Asian country becomes anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The EU reaffirmed its stance of supporting freedom, security and safety ofaviation and navigation in the East Sea, as well as appreciated Vietnam’s rolein the Asia-Pacific for regional and global peace and stability.

Earlier, Vinh attended a meeting of the European Union Military Committee atthe level of EU Chiefs of Defence on November 21, underlining Vietnam’s interestin the EU’s training and education missions in African nations.

He laid stress on Vietnam’s willingness to cooperate with the EU as aresponsible partner of the bloc based on the comprehensive partnership andcooperation between the two sides, particularly after they inked the FPA.

Within the framework of the meeting, the Vietnamese representative, 28 EUChiefs of Defence, and other guests discussed issues related to EU TrainingMissions in Mali, Somali and Central Africa, with focus on impacts of climatechange on training and education missions and women’s role in training missionsand measures to improve operation efficiency.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Vinh had bilateral working sessions withChairman of the EU Military Committee General Claudio Graziano, UK Chief of theDefence Staff General Nicholas Carter, Deputy Secretary General for CommonSecurity and Defence Policy and Crisis Response at the European External ActionService (EEAS) Pedro Serano, and defence representatives from the UK, Germany,France and the Republic of Korea to discuss measures to promote cooperation inthe time ahead.

During his stay in Brussels, Vinh attended and delivered a speech at theconference on enhancing defence cooperation between Vietnam and EU jointly heldby the EEAS, the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Vietnamesedelegation to the EU, and the European Institute for Asian Studies./.