(VNF) - Over 300 former trainees of the Vietnam - Australia Defence Cooperation Program recently reunited in the Alumni Dinner 2017.

The event was attended by Australian Defence Attache to Vietnam, Colonel Nerolie McDonald; Deputy Director-General of Personnel Department, Ministry of National Defence, Major General Le Duc Manh; and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick.

The party also welcomed 6 students from the Australian Defence Force School of Language who have been joining a 2-week Vietnamese language training in Hanoi.

This year’s reunion included a mini talkshow featuring the outstanding achievements of Lieutenant (LT) Nguyen Thien Kien and Senior Lieutenant (SNLT) Le Huy Hoang.

Alumni have played a very important role in strengthening the bilateral relation between the two countries, especially the people-to-people link. (source: Australian Embassy)

LT Nguyen Thien Kien is a graduate with excellence from the Australian Defence Force Academy while SNLT Le Huy Hoang got his Master of Engineering Management from the University of Wollongong, Australia and has become widely known as the author of the book “Where there is a will, there is a way”.

The cornerstone of the Vietnam - Australia Defence Cooperation is the English language training program.

Since the establishment of bilateral defence relations in 1998, Australia has provided English language training to about 2,200 Vietnam People’s Army officers in both Vietnam and Australia. Alumni have played a very important role in strengthening the bilateral relation between the two countries, especially the people-to-people link./.

( Phi Yen )