VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said he wants Vietnam and Australia to make greater efforts to lift their cooperative ties to a new height for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Speaking at an August 29 reception in Hanoi for Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith, PM Dung highly valued the outcomes of the talks between the defence ministers of Vietnam and Australia and close cooperation between the two ministries.

He said the visit will contribute to promoting multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

The Vietnamese-Australian partnership is developing in politics, diplomacy, economics, military, education, science-technology and culture, said the PM, adding that both sides have coordinated and supported each other at international and regional forums.

He asked the two sides to work closely in organising activities to celebrate the two countries’ diplomatic ties in 2013.

Regarding defence cooperation, the government leader proposed both sides actively implement their agreements, particularly those reached at the talks between Ministers Phung Quang Thanh and Stephen Smith during the visit.

Minister Smith said his current visit aims to further enhance cooperation with Vietnam.

Highlighting the effective cooperation in various aspects, especially in peace keeping and training, Smith said the Australian Defence Ministry will closely work with its Vietnamese counterpart to implement their cooperation agreements on defence.

He expressed hopes that the Vietnamese Government would always support the two ministries in cooperative activities to further their ties in an in-depth and effective manner, thus positively elevating the two countries’ wide-ranging cooperation.

Defence Minister praises Australian counterpart’s visit

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith’s visit will significantly contribute to deepening the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive partnership and cooperation between their Defence Ministries.

Minister of National Defence Phung Quang Thanh emphasised the warm welcome at a meeting with mass media, following talks with his Australian counterpart.

Briefing media on the results of their talks, both ministers said they had reviewed the cooperation recently and discussed further measures to cement ties by working towards the implementation of their Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, signed in 2010.

They also exchanged views on international and regional issues, indicating that the two nations will work together to promote peace, friendship and cooperation.

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the development of bilateral defence cooperation, especially in training. They agreed to continue consulting each other in multilateral forums and promote bilateral dialogue at both strategic and implementation levels.

In the future, the two ministries will continue to expand the English training programme for Vietnamese military personnel and discuss issues relating to security in the Asia Pacific region on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Smith said the Australian Defence Ministry will also assist in the clearance of war-era bombs and mines in Vietnam.

VNN/VOV/VNA