Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Singaporean Permanent Secretary of Defence Chan Heng Kee co-chaired the 15th Singapore-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue in Singapore on August 22.
At the event, the two sides discussed regional and international situation and issues of shared concern, while sharing viewpoints on the need to maintain peace, stability, ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, settle disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), effectively and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and build a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in conformity with international law.
The two sides noted that the dialogue was held in the context where the Vietnam-Singapore relationship is developing in a trustful, practical, and efficient manner with fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, investment, education, training, and people-to-people exchange.
They recognised and hailed the high sense of responsibility of the Vietnam-Singapore Joint Working Group in summarising bilateral cooperation outcomes over the years and proposing collaboration orientations for 2025.
They said that bilateral defence cooperation has been implemented effectively following contents agreed upon at the previous dialogue, especially in delegation exchange, maintaining consultation and dialogue mechanisms, including the Defence Policy Dialogue, exchanges among young officers, training, naval cooperation, receiving Vietnamese officers to work at the Singapore Navy's Maritime Security Information Fusion Centre (IFC), and consulting and supporting each other at multilateral forums and international events hosted by each other.
In the coming time, the two sides will focus on strengthening delegation exchanges, especially at the high level, effectively maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms, especially the Defence Policy Dialogue, promoting partnership in training, cyber security, military medicine, search and rescue, and cooperation among forces and research institutions, while continuing to consult and support each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms.
On the occasion, Chien invited Chan to visit Vietnam to attend activities to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo. Vietnam welcomes Singaporean defence businesses to join the expo, he said.
Concluding the dialogue, the two witnessed the exchange of defence cooperation agreement between the two sides.
Earlier the same day, the Ministry of National Defence’s delegation paid a courtesy call to Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
Chien thanked the Ministry of Defence of Singapore for providing professional and language training courses for Vietnamese officers and receiving Vietnamese officers to work at the IFC. He said he hopes the ministry and the minister will continue attention and support to bilateral defence cooperation matching the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Chien conveyed Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang’s invitation to Minister Ng Eng Hen to visit Vietnam for the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo.
For his part, the minister showed his delight at the defence cooperation outcomes between the two countries over the years, which has contributed to fostering political trust and deepening the strategic partnership between Singapore and Vietnam.
Hailing the signing of the new defence cooperation agreement, the Singaporean minister said he hopes the two countries will continue to promote cooperation across all fields, and pledged that his ministry will work closely with the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam and maintain mutual support in activities hosted and organised by each side./.
VNA
