(Bqp.vn) - On July 2, in Hanoi, Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Italian Secretary of State for Defence Matteo Perego di Cremnago co-chaired the 5th Vietnam - Italy Defence Policy Dialogue.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien speaking at the dialogue.
At the dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations. The country is also steadfast in its “four no’s” defence policy - no joining military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no allowing another country to build its military bases or use Vietnamese territory to oppose the other, and no using or threatening to use force in international relations. On the East Sea issue, Vietnam’s consistent stance is to persistently strive to solve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means based on international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, and international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and support the prompt conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
At the dialogue.
Emphasising that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is ready to receive Italian military personnel to participate in the International Defence Officials Course at the National Defence Academy and to study the Vietnamese Language Course at the Military Science Academy, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien proposed both sides focus on exploring the possibility of signing cooperation documents; continuing to promote the exchange of delegations at various levels, and enhancing collaboration in training, defence industry, and United Nations peacekeeping.
Mr. Matteo Perego di Cremnago speaking at the dialogue.
For his part, Mr. Matteo Perego di Cremnago thanked the host for the warm reception; speaking highly of the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2024. He expressed confidence that the dialogue would be a success as a contribution to strengthening bilateral defence ties and further propelling the Vietnam - Italy Strategic Partnership forward.
Mr. Matteo Perego di Cremnago emphasised that both Vietnam and Italy share a common vision regarding the global situation with the desire to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world. He affirmed that Italy wants to promote defence cooperation with Vietnam, thereby laying the foundation for new and practical development steps in the bilateral relationship. He also noted that Italy has expertise and capacity in bomb and mine clearance and is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in this field.
The two sides signing the Dialogue Minutes.
At the dialogue, the two sides signed the Dialogue Minutes and a Letter of Intent to establish a working group on bilateral cooperation in the field of defence equipment.
