The Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, is visiting Vietnam from July 26 to 30.

The visit will allow him to see firsthand the positive contribution Australia’s defense partnership with Vietnam is making and is also an important opportunity to look at the future of the bilateral defense cooperation program.

“Australia has a longstanding and strong history of engagement in Vietnam,” Australian Charge D’Affaires Layton Pike said. “We are working with Vietnam and other countries to ensure our region is safe, secure, and prosperous. Australia’s defense cooperation program in Vietnam is part of this commitment.”

Vice Admiral Griggs will meet with the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, and the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Senior Lieutenant General Pham Ngoc Minh, at the Ministry of Defense in Hanoi. He will also meet with the Air Force-Air Defense, Navy and Coast Guard leaders to discuss further bilateral cooperation in a range of specialist areas, including maritime security.

Vice Admiral Griggs will deliver a speech to Ministry of Defense personnel on overcoming the challenges posed by Australia’s military modernization efforts. He will also visit the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center to discuss Vietnam’s current and future contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

His visit to Vietnam is one part of an extensive regional tour, including visits to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam, in which he will discuss Australia’s enduring cooperation with regional military forces.

VN Economic Times