Hanoi (VNA) – The 3rd defence policy dialogue between Vietnam and Canada took place in Hanoi on February 20 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and his Canadian counterpart Stefanie Beck.
Congratulating Beck on her appointment as Deputy Minister of National Defence, Chien expressed his belief that, in her new position, she will make significant contributions to further promoting the Vietnam-Canada Comprehensive Partnership in general and defence cooperation in particular, for the benefit of both countries and their armies, as well as for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world at large.
He emphasised that bilateral defence cooperation has been actively deployed by both sides in accordance with signed agreements, particularly since the 2nd defence policy dialogue in September 2023, in line with the needs and capabilities of each side and yielding concrete results, especially in the exchange of delegations at various levels.
Dialogue and consultation mechanisms have been effectively maintained. Other areas of cooperation, such as training, United Nations peacekeeping, defence industry, war aftermath mitigation, and border management, have also been actively promoted. In addition, both sides have coordinated and supported each other in international multilateral mechanisms and forums.
Looking ahead, Chien suggested that the two sides continue to further strengthen cooperation and effectively implement key areas, including maintaining delegation exchanges at all levels, sustaining the established dialogue and consultation mechanisms, expanding training collaboration, sharing experiences and enhancing capacity of Vietnam’s UN peacekeeping force. He underscored the need for both sides to enhance cooperation in defence industry, war legacy remediation, and border management.
Furthermore, he affirmed Vietnam’s support for Canada’s bid to join the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) based on ASEAN consensus.
For her part, Beck appreciated the positive outcomes achieved in bilateral defence cooperation in recent times and expressed her hope that future collaboration will be further strengthened based on the agreed-upon areas to make it more substantive and effective.
At the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared concern. Chien reiterated Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations.
Vietnam is willing to cooperate with countries and international organisations for peace and development in the region and the world, Chien stated, stressing that it remains committed to settling disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law.
Regarding the East Sea issue, he emphasised the need to respect international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and accelerate negotiations to finalise an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The two sides signed the minutes of the 3rd Vietnam-Canada defence policy dialogue at the end of the event./.
