Vietnamese, British Defense Ministers hold talks

Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang (right) shakes hands with visiting British Secretary of State for Defense Robert Ben Lobban Wallace, Ha Noi, July 22, 2021 - Photo: VNA

The agreement was reached at the talks on July 22 between Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang and British Secretary of State for Defense Robert Ben Lobban Wallace who is on a three-day official visit to Viet Nam starting on July 21 at the invitation of the Vietnamese Minister of Defense.

At the talks, the British side shared Viet Nam’s position on resolving the East Sea issue, reiterating the importance of freedom of navigation and aviation and advocating the respect for the rule of law, and emphasizing all disputes must be addressed by peaceful measures on the basis of international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, said Wallace.

Both sides consented that the bilateral cooperation has been elevated a new height, with many achievements in such fields like politics, ecnomy, trade, culture and education. 

On defense cooperantion, the two countries have basically completed the agreed cooperative contents such as maintaining defense policy dialogue mechanism, stepping up delegation exchanges, training English for Vietnamese officers, exchanging and sharing experience in UN peacekeeping missions, thus making positive contributions to the two countries’ strategic partnership.

Phan, for his part, expressed his pleasure to welcome and hold talks with Wallace in Ha Noi amid the complicated evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world as well as in two countries.  

Wallace’s ongoing visit to Viet Nam affirms the goodwill, efforts and determination of the two countries in promoting cooperation in general and defence cooperation in particular, Phan said.

He affirmed Viet Nam supports the UK to join the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM ) on the basis of ASEAN consensus and backs the UK to boost cooperation with ASEAN, including military-defense cooperation.

Phan took the occasion to express thanks to the British Government for sharing experience in COVID-19 prevention and control and naming Viet Nam in its vaccine priority list. 

Phan also suggested Wallace, within his authority, support the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to get access to vaccine resources. 

By Thuy Dung