The Vietnam-France Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation held its fifth session in Hanoi on April 27.

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and Director of Strategic Affairs at the French Ministry of Defence Philippe Errera co-chaired the meeting.

Deputy Minister Vinh said Vietnam regards France as an important partner and stressed that it is necessary to find out and promote ethos of each side for effective cooperation, making defence ties one of pillars in the two countries’ strategic partnership in the interests of the two countries’ people.

For his part, Errera said France attaches importance to defence cooperation with Vietnam and backs the country’s commitments to promoting peace and stability in the region and the world.

At the meeting, both sides agreed to continue boosting bilateral defence cooperation, including delegation exchanges and training, maritime security and UN peacekeeping experience sharing.

The two sides also consented to tightening coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums.

During the session, the two defence ministries signed an agreement on cooperation in the fields of hydrographic surveying, oceanography, and nautical chartering.

VNA