Vietnam spared no efforts to strengthen defence cooperation to serve the national construction and defence and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region during this year.

The remark was made by Lieut-Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Defence Minister in his article to the press on the occasion of the 66 th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (Dec. 22).

According to the deputy minister, Vietnam saw outstanding achievements in its defence external affairs in 2010, significantly raising position of the country and the army.

He stressed the important role of Vietnam ’s defence external activities in maintaining peaceful environment for national development, contributing to peace in the region and the world, as well as to building the army strongly and competently to defence the motherland in circumstances and protect the socialist regime and benefits of the country at all matters of the era.

External activities have been contributing to building up peace tendency, equality, mutual respect, complying with international law and publicising transparency in relations among nations, especially in national defence.

Vietnam ’s defence external affairs have formed mechanisms for bilateral and multilateral cooperation to address issues relating to the country’s security, expand ties with other countries, focusing on development of strategic relations.

Bilateral defence relations between Vietnam and other nations gradually moved to practical and deep cooperation, thus increasing the army’s strength and the country’s national-defence potential.

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms in training, equipment purchase, defence industry, settlement of non-traditional security issues have seen effectiveness over the past year .

Vietnam has broadened defence ties, focusing on relations with neighbours, ASEAN members and major partners with significant achievements.

The ties between Vietnam and China based on the spirit of traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership concentrated on the implementation of cooperation mechanisms in order to maintain security along the common land and sea borderlines and solve security issues of mutual concern.

The establishment of annual deputy ministerial-level defence dialogue between the two countries and the development of others defence ties raised mutual understanding and trust, as well as cooperation in solving security relating to the two countries and the region, turning the defence ties into one of bilateral important relations.

The relations between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia have been built up on the traditional friendship, respect of independence and sovereignty, deep cooperation in order to meet the requirement on security defence of each country.

In addition, Vietnam enhanced defence cooperation with other ASEAN member countries, focusing on dealing with emerging security issues in the region, such as maritime security, anti-terrorism.

In 2010, Vietnam upgraded its defence ties with major powers in the world like Russia , the United States , Japan .

The country’s multilateral defence relations within ASEAN and between ASEAN and non-bloc partners also obtained achievements.

By fulfilling the role as coordinator of ASEAN defence cooperation activities in 2010, Vietnam made its imprint in multilateral defence cooperation. The success of the first ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM +) held in Hanoi raised position and prestige of the nation and the army, affirming Vietnam to be an important factor and reliable partner in maintaining peace, stability and development in the region./.