Singapore (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of NationalDefence General Ngo Xuan Lich had bilateral meetings with defence officials ofNew Zealand, the UK and Singapore on June 1 on the sidelines of the 17thShangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Meeting with Defence Minister of New Zealand RonMark, Minister Lich expressed his delight at the recent development ofVietnam-New Zealand relations, including defence ties. He noted the two sideshave frequently exchanged delegations at all levels and supported each other atmultilateral forums, adding that visits by naval ships have also contributed totheir connections.

He thanked the Defence Ministry of New Zealandfor effectively helping to provide English training for Vietnamese officers totake part in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The two ministers agreed to bolster cooperationin the fields matching their demand such as training, cyber security, searchand rescue, and participation in UN peacekeeping activities.

Talking to UK Defence Secretary GavinWilliamson, Lich appreciated the UK’s support for Vietnam to replace theBritish level-2 field hospital in South Sudan and improve English skills ofofficers preparing to join UN peacekeeping missions.

To bring defence ties on par with the countries’strategic partnership, the two sides agreed to increase all-level mutualvisits, effectively carry out dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, continue to completeand sign cooperation documents, support each other at multilateral forums, andenhance ties in UN peacekeeping.

At the meeting with Singaporean Defence MinisterNg Eng Heng, the Vietnamese official congratulated Singapore and its army onsuccessfully organising the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat and theASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting. He voiced his belief that thecountry will fulfil the tasks of ASEAN Chair in 2018, thus helping to maintainthe bloc’s central role and leadership.

The two ministers shared the view that over thepast years, especially since the signing of the bilateral defence cooperationagreement in 2009, their defence relations have grown positively and resultedin initial practical outcomes.

Authorised agencies have been coordinatingactively to implement the agreement, focusing on delegation exchanges,personnel training, exchanges of young officers, cooperation between naval, airand military medicine forces, collaboration between strategic researchinstitutes, and coordination at multilateral forums, they noted.

Minister Lich asked Singapore to support Vietnamwhen his country acts as ASEAN Chair in 2020.-VNA