Singapore ,Vietnam reaffirm defence relations
Singapore (VNA) – Vietnam and Singapore reaffirmed
their warm and friendly defence relations as well as their commitment to enhance bilateral
defence cooperation at the 13th Singapore-Vietnam Defence Policy
Dialogue (DPD) held in Singapore on November 4.
The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National
Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Permanent Secretary Chan
Heng Kee at Singapore’s Ministry of Defence.
At the dialogue, the two sides shared the view that the bilateral defence
cooperation in the past year has achieved important results, with the same
frequency and level as before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In
particular, during the State visit of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Singapore last
February, the defence ministers of the two countries signed an agreement on
bilateral defence cooperation which created the framework for strengthening
collaboration in areas that each side has strengths.
The two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in human
resources, collaboration and exchanges between the navies, air forces and coast
guards of the two countries. They pledged to study the expansion of cooperation to fields that
suit their needs such as cybersecurity, maritime security, digital
transformation, and response to emerging diseases as well as actively support
each other within the military-defence framework of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Regarding the world and regional situation, the two sides committed to continue working closely with each other to maintain the unity and central role of
ASEAN in the regional security architecture, and to promote dialogue and
cooperation among ASEAN countries as well as between the bloc and external partners
for peace and stability of the region and the world.
The two sides also exchanged views on a number of issues of common
concern, such as the situation in the East Sea and non-traditional security
challenges such as cybersecurity, maritime security, and the Greater Mekong
Sub-region.
Chan emphasised that given the complicated developments in the
world and regional situation, the two sides need to further strengthen their cooperation for mutual interests. He also thanked Vietnam for its active
support of multilateral initiatives and events held by Singapore.
For his part, Chien repeated an invitation to Chan, leaders of
Singapore's Ministry of Defence, army and enterprises to attend the first
International Defence Exhibition in Vietnam in early December, saying that
Singapore's presence will contribute to the overall success of the event.
Within the framework of the dialogue, the two sides signed a cooperation
plan for 2023-2025 which is built on the renewed Defence Cooperation
Agreement signed in February this year.
During his stay in Singapore, Chien also called on Senior
Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, visited the Information Fusion Centre at
Changi Naval Base and had a working session with the International Institute for
Strategic Studies (UK) in Asia (IISS-Asia)./.