Third Vietnam-Australia defence policy dialogue

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh at the dialogue (Photo: VNA)

Both sides discussed regional and global issues of shared concern, including those regarding the ASEAN Year 2020 when Vietnam undertakes the role of ASEAN Chair.

Agreeing with Vietnam’s stance on the settlement of the East Sea issue, the Australian side underlined the importance of freedom of navigation and aviation, emphasizing that disputes must be settled through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

With regard to bilateral defence ties, the two sides hailed the achievements recorded over the past years within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defence cooperation signed in 2010 and the Declaration on Joint Vision for Enhancing Defence Cooperation inked in 2018, thus making positive contributions to the Vietnam – Australia strategic partnership.

They pledged sustained efforts to foster ties the spheres of dialogues, consultations, delegation exchange, education and training, UN peacekeeping mission and maritime security, as well as uphold women’s role and gender equality in defence activities.

Australia vowed to assist the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in successfully holding defence conferences within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus when Vietnam assumes the ASEAN Chair next year. It expected that Vietnam would support the initiative to hold the ASEAN – Australia Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting.

Vietnam agreed in principle the proposal and asked Australia to push ahead with consultations to reach a consensus from other ASEAN member states.

On this occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh conveyed the invitation of Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich to the Minister for Defence of Australia to pay an official visit to Vietnam at an appropriate time.

The Australian side informed that its Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds is scheduled to pay an official visit to Vietnam next year, adding that they assigned the two defence ministries to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the visit.