Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang has invited leaders of Australia’s defense establishment and defense industry companies to attend the third Vietnam International Defense Expo in December.
Gen. Phan Van Giang and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles sign an updated Joint Vision Statement on advancing cooperation between the two defense ministries. Photo: Vietnam Ministry of National Defense
As part of General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to Australia, Gen. Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, held talks with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles at the Australian Department of Defence headquarters in Canberra on Wednesday morning local time.
Marles said the visit provided an opportunity for the two countries to maintain the momentum of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence affirmed his readiness to work with Giang and Vietnam’s defense leadership to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and improve its effectiveness, contributing to the continued development of relations between the two countries.
Giang said To Lam’s visit carried significant political importance, providing fresh momentum to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and usher in a new stage of bilateral relations.
Officials from the Vietnamese and Australian defense ministries hold talks in Canberra. Photo: Vietnam Ministry of National Defense
Defense cooperation has been an important pillar of the broader relationship between Vietnam and Australia in recent years, expanding in scope while becoming increasingly substantive, effective and practical.
Looking ahead, Giang expressed his hope that the two defense ministries would translate the shared understandings reached by senior leaders into concrete defense cooperation, strengthen friendship and mutual trust between the two ministries and armed forces, and bring defense ties in line with the level of the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The two countries should focus on maintaining delegation exchanges and existing cooperation mechanisms, while expanding collaboration in education and training, United Nations peacekeeping, cooperation between military services and branches, efforts to address the consequences of war, military medicine, search and rescue, defense industry and border management. They should also continue supporting each other at international multilateral forums.
The two sides sign cooperation documents covering search and rescue, border protection and coast guard activities. Photo: Vietnam Ministry of National Defense
Giang thanked Australia for providing supplies and equipment to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, saying the assistance had made a practical contribution to improving Vietnam’s training and its deployment of personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He also expressed hope that the Australian Department of Defence would consider increasing scholarships in fields where Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense has training needs.
Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense, he added, is ready to welcome Australian personnel to study Vietnamese and participate in international defense officials’ courses at its academies and schools.
The two sides also exchanged views on global and regional developments and other issues of mutual interest.
On the occasion, Giang invited leaders of Australia’s Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force and defense industry companies to continue supporting and participate in the third Vietnam International Defense Expo, scheduled for December.
Stepping up cooperation against cross-border crime
Lt. Gen. Vu Trung Kien meets Australian Border Force Commissioner Gavan Reynolds. Photo: Vietnam Ministry of National Defense
On Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Vu Trung Kien, Commander of the Vietnam Border Guard, and Maj. Gen. Le Dinh Cuong, Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard, met Australian Border Force Commissioner Gavan Reynolds.
The two sides discussed shared challenges in tackling cross-border and organized crime, including organized drug trafficking, illegal entry and exit, irregular migration, human trafficking, smuggling and trade fraud.
They agreed to strengthen coordination, information exchange and experience sharing among relevant authorities. They also stressed that effectively addressing emerging regional challenges would require cooperation among multiple countries, helping safeguard security and public order along the borders and in the maritime zones of both countries and the wider region.
Kien proposed that the two sides consider developing plans to guide and implement memoranda of understanding on cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crime and other cross-border violations.
He also called for coordination in preventing and monitoring illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and exchanging relevant information.
The two countries should also cooperate in training and professional development to strengthen border-management expertise, law-enforcement capabilities and foreign-language skills among personnel on both sides.
Vietnamnet.vn
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