Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien co-chaired the Vietnam-Australia fifth defence policy dialogue on December 1. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Peter Tesch, Deputy Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Industry at Australia’s Department of Defence, co-chaired the two countries’ fifth defence policy dialogue on December 1.

At the virtual event, the sides affirmed that the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership, particularly defence collaboration, has been maintained and promoted over the past time, actively contributing to peace, stability and common development in the region and in the world.

Exchanging views on the global and regional situations and issues of mutual concern, they shared a common stance regarding the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) issue, Nhan dan (People) newspaper reported.

Both emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters, and of settling disputes at sea by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

It is also necessary to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) (DOC) as well as to speed up negotiations to soon achieve an efficient and effective code of conduct (COC) in the waters in line with international law, they added.

The two sides agreed to continue to maintain and foster the defence ties and approve a three-year bilateral defence cooperation plan for the 2022-2024 period. They stated that both countries are responsible members of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and regularly consult and support each other at regional forums.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien co-chaired the Vietnam-Australia fifth defence policy dialogue on December 1. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

Chien praised the Australian Department of Defence’s proposal of donating medical equipment and supplies for Vietnam. He hoped for further assistance from the nation for Vietnam regarding UN peacekeeping mission.

He stressed Vietnam supports the ASEAN-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and is ready to effectively implement the outcomes of the second informal ASEAN-Australia Defence Ministers' Meeting on the basis of the bloc’s consensus.

Tesch informed that Australia has committed to helping Vietnam transport its level-2 field hospital to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan in 2022 and to donating some equipment to improve the capacity of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Earlier, Chien also received Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie.

Two-way trade up 50%

Nguyen Dang Thang, Vietnamese Consul General in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland speaks at the forum. Photo: VNA

The total import-export turnover between Vietnam and Australia reached a record of AUD14 billion (UA$10 billion) in the first 10 months of this year, an increase of 50% over the same period last year.

The figure was revealed by Nguyen Dang Thang, Vietnamese Consul General in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland while addressing a business forum held by South Australia-Vietnam Business Council on November 29, VietnamPlus said.

He said that the two-way investment turnover between the two countries has increased significantly, worth about $2.5 billion.

However, according to Thang, this number is still modest compared to the potential of the two countries. He believed that investment between Australia and Vietnam will mark a new milestone, doubling two-way investment as set by the goal of the strategy to strengthen the economic integration of two sides if opportunities were utilised.

John Ellis, Director of International Markets at the South Australian Trade and Investment Authority, speaks at the forum. Photo: VNA

John Ellis, Director of International Markets at the South Australian Trade and Investment Authority, said Vietnam's investment environment is open and the Vietnamese government always creates favourable conditions for foreign investors.

The promotion of investment cooperation will bring benefits not only to Australia but also to Vietnam, he said, noting that the two countries need to further expand market for each other's goods./.

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