Bangkok (VNA) - Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defence Gen. Sanitchanog Sangkachantra co-chaired the 6th Vietnam-Thailand Defence Policy Dialogue in Bangkok on March 18, reaffirming their dedication to advancing bilateral defence cooperation in alignment with their Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
The dialogue saw both sides exchanging insights on global and regional issues of shared concern, underlining the region's role and ASEAN-led mechanisms. They pledged to actively contribute to strengthening ASEAN's solidarity and central role in regional security architecture, while emphasising the importance of resolving disputes by peaceful measures based on international law.
Chien highlighted Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, as well as multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations. He reiterated the country's "Four No's" defence policy and settlement of disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law. Regarding the East Sea, issue, Vietnam maintains that all parties involved must respect international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and adhere to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while expediting the conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Bilateral defence cooperation has flourished, with both nations praising significant achievements in delegation exchanges, education and training, military medicine, border management, transnational crime prevention, and overcoming the consequencies of post-war bombs and mines.The two sides agreed to expand cooperation further in human resources training, policy research, cybersecurity, and international relations, while continuing to engage in multilateral forums and ASEAN-led mechanisms.
The same day, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Chien met with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, during which he briefed the host on the successful outcomes of the 6th Defence Policy Dialogue.
Chien praised Thailand's proactive role in promoting multilateral cooperation in ASEAN, which, he said, had strengthened intra-bloc solidarity and elevated ASEAN's global standing. He expressed his hope that the Thai government would continue to facilitate robust bilateral defense ties, fostering peace and stability across the region.
Phumtham reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to implementing the dialogue's outcomes and expanding cooperation in key areas, including strengthening cooperation between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, cybersecurity cooperation, and combating cross-border crime. Both sides pledged to maintain strong coordination in multilateral forums, particularly within ASEAN, contributing to regional unity and security./.
