Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh held talks with visiting USSecretary of Defence Ashton Carter in Hanoi on June 1, during which bothsides agreed defence cooperation during the past time has met therequirement of the MoU on this field signed in 2011 between the twocountries.
The Vietnamese Defence Minister lauded the USdefence chief’s visit in the context that both countries are celebratingthe 20th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral relations.
The minister said he believes the visit will contribute to promote theVietnam-US defence collaboration in line with the 2011 memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) on strengthening bilateral defence partnership.
Speaking to the media following the talks, Minister Phung Quang Thanhsaid Vietnam welcomes the US’ activeness in implementing programmes tosurmount war aftermaths.
He announced that during thetalks, the two sides signed a joint vision statement on defencerelations, defining the orientation for future bilateral affiliation onthe foundation of the 2011 MoU.
The future defencecollaboration will cover activities addressing war aftermaths (searchingfor missing in action soldiers, dioxin detoxification, dealing withunexploded ordnance); the exchange of delegations; dialogue andconsultation; experience sharing in search and rescue, disaster relief,peace-keeping operations and maritime security; training’ militarymedicine; mutual consultations at multilateral forums, the ADMM+; andother fields of mutual needs and capacity.
The documentalso targets deeper friendship, mutual understanding and trust betweenthe two countries, while fostering the comprehensive partnership betweenVietnam and the US on the basis of respecting political institutions,independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and law of each otherwithout harming security of other states.
Meanwhile, theUS defence chief said both sides concurred to deepen bilateral defenceties, laying the foundation for partnership in the next 20 years. Thesigning of the statement will create necessary conditions for the twodefence ministries to realise their commitments, he added.
This is a new step forwards in the Vietnam-US defence collaboration,especially in the area of maritime security, stated Carter.
On the other hand, he said, the US and Vietnam are workingtogether to ensure peace, stability in the region as well as in abroader range.
The US will offer an 18 million USDsupport package to Vietnam’s Coast Guard to buy patrol vessels, whileassisting Vietnam in building the peace-keeping training centre, heannounced.
The US pledges to support a Vietnam ofindependence, strength, prosperity and respect for human rights and therule of law, he affirmed, adding that his country will continue workingwith Vietnam in coping with problems left by the war.
Regarding the East Sea dispute, particularly the illegal construction ofislands, Defence Minister Thanh reiterated Vietnam’s constant policy ofsettling sovereignty disputes through peaceful measures in conformitywith international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,the Declaration on Conduct of Parties on the East Sea and taking noactions to expand or complicate disputes.
ASEAN membercountries will make joint efforts with China towards the earlyconclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he said.
During his stay, the US Secretary of Defence will have meetings withParty General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang,and visit a number of military units of the Vietnam People’s Army.-VNA
The Vietnamese Defence Minister lauded the USdefence chief’s visit in the context that both countries are celebratingthe 20th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral relations.
The minister said he believes the visit will contribute to promote theVietnam-US defence collaboration in line with the 2011 memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) on strengthening bilateral defence partnership.
Speaking to the media following the talks, Minister Phung Quang Thanhsaid Vietnam welcomes the US’ activeness in implementing programmes tosurmount war aftermaths.
He announced that during thetalks, the two sides signed a joint vision statement on defencerelations, defining the orientation for future bilateral affiliation onthe foundation of the 2011 MoU.
The future defencecollaboration will cover activities addressing war aftermaths (searchingfor missing in action soldiers, dioxin detoxification, dealing withunexploded ordnance); the exchange of delegations; dialogue andconsultation; experience sharing in search and rescue, disaster relief,peace-keeping operations and maritime security; training’ militarymedicine; mutual consultations at multilateral forums, the ADMM+; andother fields of mutual needs and capacity.
The documentalso targets deeper friendship, mutual understanding and trust betweenthe two countries, while fostering the comprehensive partnership betweenVietnam and the US on the basis of respecting political institutions,independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and law of each otherwithout harming security of other states.
Meanwhile, theUS defence chief said both sides concurred to deepen bilateral defenceties, laying the foundation for partnership in the next 20 years. Thesigning of the statement will create necessary conditions for the twodefence ministries to realise their commitments, he added.
This is a new step forwards in the Vietnam-US defence collaboration,especially in the area of maritime security, stated Carter.
On the other hand, he said, the US and Vietnam are workingtogether to ensure peace, stability in the region as well as in abroader range.
The US will offer an 18 million USDsupport package to Vietnam’s Coast Guard to buy patrol vessels, whileassisting Vietnam in building the peace-keeping training centre, heannounced.
The US pledges to support a Vietnam ofindependence, strength, prosperity and respect for human rights and therule of law, he affirmed, adding that his country will continue workingwith Vietnam in coping with problems left by the war.
Regarding the East Sea dispute, particularly the illegal construction ofislands, Defence Minister Thanh reiterated Vietnam’s constant policy ofsettling sovereignty disputes through peaceful measures in conformitywith international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,the Declaration on Conduct of Parties on the East Sea and taking noactions to expand or complicate disputes.
ASEAN membercountries will make joint efforts with China towards the earlyconclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he said.
During his stay, the US Secretary of Defence will have meetings withParty General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang,and visit a number of military units of the Vietnam People’s Army.-VNA
