Australia, VN look to tighten defence ties

Deputy Minister of Defence, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh receives Stephen Moore, head of the International Policy Division under the Australian Department of Defence, Ha Noi, August 14, 2018

Addressing the meeting, Vinh underscored that 2018 marks an important milestone in the Vietnam-Australia relations, with a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership and the celebration of 45 years of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations and 20 years of their defence ties.

Defence cooperation has been accelerated by the two countries, with significant outcomes generated, thus meeting the interests of both sides, he said.

The official noted that the Vietnam Ministry of Defence considers Australia a key partner, which has supported the country in building its peacekeeping training centre.  

Vinh thanked Australia for its commitment to sponsor equipment for and transport of Viet Nam’s level-2 field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan.

For his part, Stephen Moore agreed with Vinh’s view on the directions for their bilateral defence cooperation in the future, while affirming that, in his position, he will continue to make active contributions to the development of the relations between Vietnam and Australia as a whole and between the two countries’ armies in particular.

                                                                                                                By Hoang Ha