Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh paid a four-day working visit to the US from Sept. 26-29 for consultation on the first ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and preparations for US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates’ official visit to Vietnam.
The ADMM+ meeting themed “Strategic cooperation for peace, stability and development in the region” is scheduled to take place in Hanoi on Oct. 12 with the participation of defence ministers of 10 ASEAN member countries and its eight dialogue partners, including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and the US, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.
Talking with the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the US , Deputy Minister Vinh said that the US Government and Department of Defence have expressed support of the ADMM+.
The US side has totally agreed with the goals and principled issues that were agreed among ASEAN members, said Vinh, saying that the ADMM+ is a forum discussing cooperation to consolidate regional peace, development and stability on the principle of equality, respect for mutual benefits as well as each other’s independence, self-reliance and sovereignty, and listening to each other’s opinions.
Another principle is that the ASEAN always plays a central and a driving role as this is the cooperation within the ASEAN region, he noted.
He said during the working sessions, the Vietnamese side has expressed wish for the US cooperation in the ADMM+, which will be for the benefits of both ASEAN and the US . Vietnam also hoped the US will actively participate in the activities of the ADMM+, first of all the cooperation in coping with non-traditional challenges, said Deputy Minister Vinh.
On the question whether the East Sea issue is included in the agenda of the ADMM+, the deputy minister said that the East Sea issue is the hot issue of interest of all circles and countries, particularly countries with related interest in this area.
However, he noted, the ADMM+ forum will deal with a wide range of issues, including sea security which includes the East Sea issue, adding the East Sea issue itself comprises many matters such as free trade, free shipping and sovereignty.
Therefore, there will not be enough time to discuss all these detailed issues at the first ADMM+ meeting, he said, adding that ASEAN nations have reached consensus that the meeting will on focus on the broad issues without going into detail.
Regarding the Vietnam-US defence relations, Vinh said that bilateral defence ties have recorded progress over the past years.
“The progress is part of the development of the general relationship between Vietnam and the US and from a broader angle, in the framework of the US ’s attention to our region which was reflected in President Barack Obama’s speech at the ASEAN-US Summit in Singapore in 2009,” he stressed.
According to the Deputy Minister, the development of the bilateral defence ties was marked by a number of events, particularly a US visit by Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh in late 2009.
The US side has taken the initiative in suggesting contents of cooperation with Vietnam as well as taken on responsibilities for humanitarian issues and surmounting the consequences of the war, he said.
The US has voiced its strong support for the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+) on the spirit of respecting ASEAN countries’ independence and self-control and not harming the interests of other countries, Vinh said, adding that US Defence Minister Robert Gates had affirmed that support and agreed to attend the ADMM+.
Deputy Minister Vinh said he believed the Vietnam-US defence ties will develop in the future along with the two countries’ relationship.
According to him, during the US Defence Minister’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam scheduled for October 11, the two sides will discuss the strengthening of cooperation in MIA issue, and the overcoming of war aftermaths as well as cooperation in training, firstly the teaching of English and Vietnamese./.
The ADMM+ meeting themed “Strategic cooperation for peace, stability and development in the region” is scheduled to take place in Hanoi on Oct. 12 with the participation of defence ministers of 10 ASEAN member countries and its eight dialogue partners, including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and the US, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.
Talking with the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the US , Deputy Minister Vinh said that the US Government and Department of Defence have expressed support of the ADMM+.
The US side has totally agreed with the goals and principled issues that were agreed among ASEAN members, said Vinh, saying that the ADMM+ is a forum discussing cooperation to consolidate regional peace, development and stability on the principle of equality, respect for mutual benefits as well as each other’s independence, self-reliance and sovereignty, and listening to each other’s opinions.
Another principle is that the ASEAN always plays a central and a driving role as this is the cooperation within the ASEAN region, he noted.
He said during the working sessions, the Vietnamese side has expressed wish for the US cooperation in the ADMM+, which will be for the benefits of both ASEAN and the US . Vietnam also hoped the US will actively participate in the activities of the ADMM+, first of all the cooperation in coping with non-traditional challenges, said Deputy Minister Vinh.
On the question whether the East Sea issue is included in the agenda of the ADMM+, the deputy minister said that the East Sea issue is the hot issue of interest of all circles and countries, particularly countries with related interest in this area.
However, he noted, the ADMM+ forum will deal with a wide range of issues, including sea security which includes the East Sea issue, adding the East Sea issue itself comprises many matters such as free trade, free shipping and sovereignty.
Therefore, there will not be enough time to discuss all these detailed issues at the first ADMM+ meeting, he said, adding that ASEAN nations have reached consensus that the meeting will on focus on the broad issues without going into detail.
Regarding the Vietnam-US defence relations, Vinh said that bilateral defence ties have recorded progress over the past years.
“The progress is part of the development of the general relationship between Vietnam and the US and from a broader angle, in the framework of the US ’s attention to our region which was reflected in President Barack Obama’s speech at the ASEAN-US Summit in Singapore in 2009,” he stressed.
According to the Deputy Minister, the development of the bilateral defence ties was marked by a number of events, particularly a US visit by Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh in late 2009.
The US side has taken the initiative in suggesting contents of cooperation with Vietnam as well as taken on responsibilities for humanitarian issues and surmounting the consequences of the war, he said.
The US has voiced its strong support for the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+) on the spirit of respecting ASEAN countries’ independence and self-control and not harming the interests of other countries, Vinh said, adding that US Defence Minister Robert Gates had affirmed that support and agreed to attend the ADMM+.
Deputy Minister Vinh said he believed the Vietnam-US defence ties will develop in the future along with the two countries’ relationship.
According to him, during the US Defence Minister’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam scheduled for October 11, the two sides will discuss the strengthening of cooperation in MIA issue, and the overcoming of war aftermaths as well as cooperation in training, firstly the teaching of English and Vietnamese./.
