Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence and the United States Department of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 7 regarding United Nations peacekeeping.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and David Shear, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.

The MoU aims to promote bilateral defence ties within the realm of peacekeeping activities organised by the United Nations such as increasing exchanges and sharing experiences and skills in UN missions.

The MoU also includes building the capacity of individuals and units in training for missions, providing equipment to peacekeeping forces, disbursing projects on building the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre and improving English language competency.

Addressing the event, Deputy Defence Minister Vinh said the signing of the MoU brought the Vietnam-US defence relationship to a new height, as both countries pledged for peace and stability and with the joint responsibility of being responsible members of the UN.

The MoU is one of four documents signed on July 7 in Washington D.C. after historic talks at the White House between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Barack Obama.

Vinh also met with Tim Rieser, an aide to Senator Patrick Leahy, to discuss resolving post-war consequences; Herve Ladsuos, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, on preparations for the level 2 field hospital and engineer company taking part in UN peacekeeping; and with leader of the UN Mine Action Agency.-VNA