Defence diplomacy helps improve Vietnamese army’s position

The conference was held by the Defence Ministry’s Central Military Commission to review the international integration and defence diplomacy work during 2015-2018.

Addressing the event, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich emphasised important achievements and changes of the work in the period, affirming that the Party and State consider this one of highlights of the army.

He applauded efforts by agencies and units in the whole army in implementing the work, while requesting them to continue to promote characteristics and advantages of international integration and defence diplomacy in building strategic trust with other countries.

He also asked for more efforts to create a solid defence-security-foreign relations front under the leadership of the Party and the State management, thus contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and promoting the prestige and position of Vietnam and its army.

The conference heard that officers and soldiers serving in the army have been more deeply aware of the roles and importance of the international integration and defence diplomacy, which are a crucial part of the national safeguarding strategy.

Participants focused on discussing outstanding results and lessons, as well as pointed out difficulties and limitations in the implementation of international integration and defence diplomacy in the period.

They also recommended and proposed specific directions and solutions for implementing the international integration and defence diplomacy plan in 2018-2020.

Delegates agreed that the work should follow the Party and State's foreign policy and attach importance to bilateral defence cooperation with key partners, towards making established relations between Vietnam and foreign countries more practical and effective.

Vietnam needs to actively participate in multilateral defence cooperation mechanisms within ASEAN and those led by ASEAN.

The Defence Ministry was required to actively deploy the project of joining UN peacekeeping missions and make all-round preparations to ensure the successful organisation of defence diplomatic activities in 2020 when Vietnam assumes the role as Chair of ASEAN.

Attention should be paid to promptly completing legal documents related to international integration and defence diplomacy, participants said.

On the occasion, the Defence Ministry presented certificates of merit to units and inpiduals for their contributions to the international integration and defence diplomacy work in 2015-2018.