Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and SouthAfrica agreed to maintain the defence policy dialogue which they consider as astrategic mechanism to promote the bilateral defence partnership and the twocountries’ friendship and cooperation.

The agreement was reached between Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich and South Africa’s Minister of Defence andMilitary Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula during their talks inHanoi on August 22.

Minister Lich expressed his belief that the officialvisit by the guest from August 22 to 26 will help create a new momentum for the“partnership for cooperation and development” between Vietnam and South Africa.

For her part, the South African ministeraffirmed that the bilateral defence cooperation is one of the importantactivities that contribute to the stronger friendship and cooperation betweenthe two States for the sake of peace, cooperation and common development in theregion and the world.

The two ministers reached high consensus on theoverall assessment of the Vietnam-South Africa defence relations in recentyears, based on the agreement on defence ties signed in 2006. The two sideshave held dialogues and consultations, exchanged delegations, and cooperated inthe defence industry, logistics and medical military.

They agreed to increaseall-level delegation exchanges to promote mutual trust and understanding. 

The two sides shared the view that defence industry, including technologytransfer, is one of the potential fields for bilateral collaboration.

They agreed to expand research cooperation intelecommunications and create conditions for Vietnam’s military telecom groupViettel to make investment in South Africa.

Regarding personnel training, Vietnam proposed thatSouth Africa provide scholarships for Vietnamese students to study English,science-technology, computer, medical military, and logistics.

Minister Lich affirmed that Vietnam is willingto receive South African military students to learn Vietnamese and join defencepolicy research courses at the Defence National Academy.

He suggested that the two sides prioritisecollaboration in medical military, military equipment, traditional medicine,and exchange of experts based on South Africa’s requests.

The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperationand share experience in joining the United Nations peacekeeping activities.South Africa is expected to share its know-how in building medical military andsapper forces in this field for Vietnam.

The two sides will studythe possibility of supporting each other in peacekeeping tasks, especially inSouth Sudan and some African countries.

The two ministers also mentioned coordination inanti-terrorism. Vietnam welcomes the South African Special ForcesBrigade to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time to study cooperationopportunities between the two sides.

During her working visit to Vietnam, the SouthAfrican defence minister is scheduled to visit the General Department of DefenceIndustry and Viettel telecom group.-VNA