The 14th Vietnam - Singapore defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on October 5 (Phôt: VNA) Chien said 2023 is a special year when the two countries celebratethe 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and 10 years ofthe strategic partnership, based on which defence cooperation has becomeincreasingly substantive and effective.
Echoing the view, Chang said bilateral defence cooperation hassubstantially contributed to the strategic partnership, and that defence tieshave continued developing strongly, especially since the signing of theagreement on bilateral defence cooperation in February 2022 and the cooperationplan for 2023 - 2025 in November the same year.
At the dialogue, the twosides discussed the international and regional situations and issues of commonconcern. They highly valued the role of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) and ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Chien emphasised Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy ofindependence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, multilateralisation anddiversification of external relations, along with the “four no’s” defencepolicy – no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases or use of the Vietnamese territory to opposeother countries, and no use of force or threat to use force in internationalrelations.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam’sconsistent viewpoint is to persistently resolve differences by peaceful meansand on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he added.
The two officials said that on the basis of the signed documentsand agreements, bilateral defence cooperation has continued to be carried out effectivelyand obtained positive results, especially all-level mutual visits, effectively maintainedconsultation and dialogue mechanisms, training cooperation, experience andinformation sharing, exchanges of young officers, and cooperation betweenmilitary services and arms.
They agreed to keep making efforts to promotedefence ties in the time ahead, with a focus on increasing delegation exchangesat all levels, especially high levels, to consult with each other and shareviewpoints on issues of common concern and cooperation orientations in a timelymanner; continuing to perfect cooperation frameworks and mechanisms; andboosting personnel training and collaboration between the countries’ naval and airforces.
Both sides also agreed to strengthenpartnerships in potential areas such as cybersecurity, digital transformation,military medicine, defence industry, and legal affairs while continuing toconsult with and support each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms ledby ASEAN so as to make important contributions to the consolidation of ASEAN’scentrality.
On this occasion, Chieninvited leaders of the Singaporean Ministry of Defence and businesses from thecity state to attend the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2024.
Concluding the dialogue, Chien and Chanwitnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation inhumanitarian assistance and disaster relief between the Office of the NationalCommittee for Incident and Disaster Response, Search and Rescue of Vietnamand the Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief CoordinationCentre of Singapore./.
VNA
