Vietnam to attend international security conference in Russia

Hanoi (VNA) - Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich’s upcoming attendance of the 7th Moscow Conference on International Security in Russia on April 4-5 aims to affirm Vietnam’s responsibility towards global and regional matters, a Vietnamese officer has said.

Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Foreign Relations Department under the Ministry of Defence, made the statement in a recent interview with Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper.

The event will take place in the context that Vietnam and Russia are witnessing the flourishing development of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and bilateral defence relations, Thang noted.

Vietnam’s viewpoints on security and development issues will be expressed at the event, he said.

On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Lich will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, during which the two sides will discuss ways to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries, towards reinforcing the friendship between the two armies, Thang stressed.

He also highlighted the importance of the Moscow Conference on International Security, saying it contributes to maintaining and promoting peace, stability and security in Asia Pacific and the world.

Launched by the Russian Ministry of Defence in 2012, the annual event provides a forum for senior defence officers, military experts from many countries and representatives from international organisations to debate global security issues that impact peace and stability, thus proposing solutions to these issues.

Russia’s invitation to Vietnam to attend the event shows Russia’s appreciation for Vietnam’s role and position in the world, Thang stressed.

Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich’s speech themed “Security challenges and possibilities of international defence cooperation in Asia Pacific” delivered at the 5th conference in 2016, was highly appreciated.

Lich will also make an important speech in this year’s event, which will highlight emerging challenges and security threats in Asia Pacific, and the need to enhance multilateral cooperation to deal with those challenges, Thang revealed.

Regarding Vietnam-Russia defence cooperation, Thang said the two sides agreed to boost the sharing of viewpoints on defence and security-related issues of their common concern, and beef up military technical cooperation during the visit to Vietnam made by Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu in January 2018.

Bilateral defence cooperation will be expanded, focusing on promoting exchange of all-level visits, naval training, UN peacekeeping activities, the sharing of experience in military law, military medicine and culture and sport exchange, he stressed.

“We believe that the defence partnership between Vietnam and Russia on the basis of political trust, will be constantly strengthened in the time ahead, for the sake of the people of each country, and for peace and stability worldwide and in the region,” Thang said .-VNA