Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and his Russian counterpart Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin co-chaired the 8th Vietnam–Russia Defence Strategy Dialogue in Hanoi on September 3.
Chien extended his sincere thanks to his Russian counterpart and the Russian ministry's delegation for attending the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day of Vietnam (September 2), as well as for co-chairing this dialogue.
The presence of the Russian delegation, along with Russian military personnel participating in the parade marking the 80th anniversary, once again affirmed the central role of defence cooperation in the overall traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he said, affirming that their participation also contributed to the success of this especially significant political event.
The Vietnamese people and the Vietnam People's Army always remember and deeply appreciate the great, meaningful, and heartfelt support from the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today, both during the past struggle for national independence and reunification, and in the ongoing national construction and protection cause.
Chien expressed his desire to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership for the benefits of both nations, and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
The two officers exchanged views on global and regional situation and issues of mutual concern. Chien affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as diversification and multilateralisation of international relations.
It is ready to cooperate with other countries and international organisations for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world; and remains steadfast in its “four no’s” defence policy, the Vietnamese deputy minister said.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam’s consistent stance is to persist in solving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and to support the early finalisation of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), Chien stressed.
Both sides agreed that scientific research cooperation within the framework of the Joint Vietnam - Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre is of great significance and continues to symbolise the traditional cooperation between the two states. They also reached consensus on effectively realising the contents of the annual cooperation plan as well as the long-term cooperation programme.
For the coming time, both sides consented to propose their respective ministries actively and effectively implement the signed cooperation documents, with a focus on promoting delegation exchanges at all levels, and training cooperation; stepping up linkages among services and branches, as well as among agencies, units, academies, and schools; sharing professional experience and expertise; and maintaining coordination and consultation within international multilateral defence mechanisms and forums, especially those led by ASEAN.
The Russian deputy minister expressed his confidence that the success of the 8th Vietnam - Russia Defence Strategy Dialogue will help outline orientations for bilateral defence cooperation to develop sustainably, effectively, and practically in the future.
Concluding the dialogue, the two sides signed the minutes of the event. On this occasion, on behalf of the State President, Chien presented a Friendship Order to Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin for his considerable contributions to boosting defence ties as well as the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries./.
