VN, New Zealand hold third defense policy dialogue

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense Hoang Xuan Chien attends the third Viet Nam-New Zealand defense policy dialogue held via video conference, December 2, 2020 - Photo: VGP

At the virtual dialogue, both sides expressed their pleasure with the two nations celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the upgrade of the ties to the strategic partnership in 2020. They described those as favorable conditions to promote defense cooperation in the fields of dialogue, consultation, delegation exchange, training, intelligence, UN peace keeping activities, maritime security, and COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

They agreed to outline a cooperation plan for the next three years with a view to elevating the defense collaboration to a new high, making it on par with the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Both sides consented to study the organization of annual meetings at ministerial level on the occasion of official visits and on the sidelines of multilateral events from next year.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, Chien highlighted outcomes of the multilateral defense activities hosted by Viet Nam in the role as the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, thereby affirming Viet Nam’s efforts in maintaining and promoting cooperation momentum within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus for mutual benefits of ASEAN and its partners.

Meanwhile, Andrew laid stress on New Zealand’s support for the center role of ASEAN, and spoke highly of Viet Nam’s initiatives for the region in the past time.

Touching on regional and international issues of mutual interest, both sides were unanimous about the common perception on the principle of respecting international law, the settlement of disputes via peaceful means, and no use of force or threat to use force.

Chien took the occasion to thank New Zealand’s defense ministry for its timely support for Viet Nam in recent storms and floods.

He highlighted the Kiwi Government’s assistance worth US$117,000 for Viet Nam to overcome consequences of natural disasters./.

By Hoang Ha