Vietnam, Laos agree to deepen cooperation in defense, security, trade
	Vietnamese Defense Ministry presents medical supplies to India
	Vietnamese defense ministry gifts medical supplies to Laos, Cambodia

Welcome ceremony held for UK Secretary of State for Defence Robert Ben Lobban Wallace (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang chaired a welcome ceremony for and held talks with UK Secretary of State for Defence Robert Ben Lobban Wallace in Hanoi on July 22, according to VNA.

During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on the world and regional situations and issues of mutual concern. The British side shared Vietnam’s views on solving the Bien Dong Sea issue, affirming the importance of navigation and aviation freedom, supporting the rule of law, and emphasizing that disputes need to be settled by peaceful means, based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They agreed that over the past time, bilateral cooperation has been lifted to a new height, with many achievements in the fields of politics, economy, trade, culture, and education.

With regard to defense cooperation, despite the negative impact caused by the global spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the two sides have finalized the agreed cooperation contents. This includes maintaining the policy dialogue mechanism, enhancing delegation exchanges, offering English language training courses for Vietnamese officers, and sharing experience in UN peacekeeping missions, thereby contributing to improving the two countries’ strategic partnership.

Both sides, therefore, concurred to continue ramping up defense ties with a primary focus on delegation exchanges, the implementation of existing co-operation mechanisms such as the Defence Policy Dialogue at a deputy ministerial level, and the bilateral working groups on defense co-operation. This is in addition to collaboration in UN peacekeeping missions, the defense industry, and cooperation in multilateral forums, VOV said.

Talks between Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang and UK Secretary of State for Defence Robert Ben Lobban Wallace (Photo: VNA)

The nation also supports the UK’s participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) on the basis of ASEAN consensus, whilst backing the UK to bolster its collaboration with ASEAN, including in military defense, Minister Giang told his guest.

He went on to express his elation at welcoming and hold talks with Secretary Wallace in Hanoi amid the ongoing complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move affirms the goodwill, positive efforts, and determination of the two countries in promoting co-operation in general, whilst also boosting defense co-operation, he stated.

He took the occasion to thank the British Government for sharing experience in Covid-19 prevention and control and putting Vietnam on the priority list of vaccines. He also suggested Wallace, within his authority, help the Vietnamese Defence Ministry in gaining access to Covid-19 vaccines.

Within the framework of his Vietnam visit from July 21-23, the UK Secretary of State for Defence is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, visit the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Vietnam National Border Committee, and have a meeting with several officers who participated in UN peacekeeping missions.

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