Deputy Minister of Defence and Navy Command Admiral Nguyen Van Hien had a meeting with Indonesia’s naval Chief of Staff, Admiral Marsetio, on December 11 in Jakarta, Indonesia to discuss ways to intensify bilateral naval relationship in tandem with the two countries’ strategic partnership.

Admiral Hien is in Jakarta to attend the International Maritime Security Symposium 2013 (IMSS 2013) hosted by the Indonesian navy.

Speaking at the meeting, Hien spoke highly of the role of Indonesia in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as in the region and the world, and called for the two navies to expand and deepen cooperation through the framework of their bilateral mechanism as well as those of the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM+.

The Deputy Minister also suggested several collaborative initiatives including exchanging delegations at all levels between the two naval forces, sharing experience and mutual support on training and using the modern technical equipment.

The initiatives won approval from the Indonesian side. Admiral Marsetio pledged to help modernise and strengthen Vietnam ’s Navy by facilitating education and training.

The two sides also compared notes on many regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Indonesian naval chief accepted an invitation from Hien to visit Vietnam in the near future.

Earlier, Hien enjoyed a successful visit to Brunei , where a hotline was established between the two navies.-VNA