At the 10th Vietnam-Japan defence policy dialogue (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – DeputyMinister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien and Japanese Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Serizawa Kiyoshico-chaired the 10th Vietnam-Japan defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on February 27.
Chien said the dialogue holds particularsignificance as the two nations recently elevated their relationship to the ComprehensiveStrategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World during theVietnamese President’s official visit to Japan in November 2023. Building uponthis solid foundation, the relationship between Vietnam and Japan is entering anew phase of development, opening up opportunities for multifaceted cooperationbetween the two defence ministries.
Reflecting on the progress of bilateral defence ties, he highlighted the tangibleresults achieved since the signing of the Joint Vision Statement on DefenceCooperation toward the next decade by the two ministries in April 2018. These include the exchange ofhigh-level delegations, defence policy dialogue, education-training, militarymedicine, search and rescue, post-war recovery, capacity-building support programmes,and mutual consultation and support at multilateral forums and mechanisms, particularly thoseled by ASEAN.
Acknowledgingthe two armies’ contributions in their role as co-chairs of the ADMM Experts' Working Group on PeacekeepingOperations during the 2021-2023 period and their successfulcoordination in hosting the Competency Evaluation Programme for Prospective United Nations Peacekeepers (CEPPP) in Vietnam, Chien congratulatedthe Japanese Ministry of Defence and the Vice Minister on successfully hostingthe 13th ASEAN-Japan Defence Vice-Ministerial Forum in Japan last January.
On the global and regional issues of shared concern, the deputy minister underlined Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence,self-reliance, peace, friendship, multilateralisation and diversification of externalrelations, and the "four no's" defence policy.
Vietnamalways expects countries to resolve issues through dialogue, peaceful means based on international law and commitments, together building an environmentof peace, friendship, cooperation and development, he said.
Serizawa,for his part, underscored the importance of the Vietnam-Japanrelationship and their defence ties in particular.
Sharing views on regional and world situation, the vice minister underlined the rules-based spirit and joining hands to build a peaceful, friendly environment for cooperation and development.
The two sides agreed to further promote the exchangeof all-level delegations and joint work in education-training, defence industry, militarymedicine, navy, cybersecurity, search and rescue, peacekeeping, post-warrecovery, and improving law enforcement capabilities at sea.
They pledged to continue with the capacity-building supportprogrammes in areas of their strengths and needs, and increase coordination andconsultation in multilateral mechanisms, particularly in the ADMM .
The Vietnamese Ministry of Defence is ready to welcome Japaneseofficers to the international defence officials’ courses at the National DefenceAcademy and Vietnamese language courses offered by the Military ScienceAcademy, Chien said.
On the occasion, Chien invited leaders of theJapanese Ministry of Defence and defence enterprises to the second VietnamInternational Defence Expo scheduled for December 2024./.
