Vietnam-Australia strategic dialogue on diplomacy and defense

On the afternoon of November 18, at the Government Guest House, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh and Deputy Minister of National Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh, along with Australian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gillian Bird and Acting Australian Deputy Minister of Defense Neil Orme, co-chaired the Vietnam-Australia Joint Foreign and Defense Strategic Dialogue.

This is the second time that Vietnam and Australia have held an inter-ministerial dialogue at the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense level to further promote the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Australia and share views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Deputy Ministers take a group photo. (Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA)

Discussing bilateral cooperation, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the positive developments in all fields, especially in the context of the two sides actively celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2013); especially in the fields of diplomacy, defense, economics-trade-investment, education-training.

In the first 9 months of 2013 (from January to September), two-way trade turnover reached 3.55 billion USD (an increase of more than 10% over the same period in 2012).

Australia affirmed to continue to strengthen cooperation in all aspects with Vietnam, especially in areas where Australia has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as development aid, education and training, infrastructure development, agriculture and rural development.

Australia pledges to continue supporting Vietnam's deep international economic integration, especially in the negotiation process of the TPP and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The two sides affirmed to strengthen coordination at regional and international forums and organizations such as APEC, ASEM, and the United Nations.

During the discussion, the two sides shared each country's foreign and defense priorities. The Vietnamese side also reported on the major achievements Vietnam has achieved in the two years of implementing the foreign policy of the 11th Party Congress on national construction and development; including the active implementation of Resolution 22 of the Politburo on promoting comprehensive international integration.

The two sides discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern; affirmed support for efforts to enhance cooperation, dialogue, reconciliation and trust building, contributing to consolidating peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two sides stressed the need to strengthen regional structures to protect peace and stability in the region, with ASEAN playing a central role. The two sides stressed continued cooperation at regional and international forums such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI).

At the dialogue, the two sides also shared views on non-traditional security issues such as human trafficking, climate change, rising sea levels, cyber security, food security, water security, including the sustainable use of Mekong River water resources.

Australia affirmed to continue supporting Vietnam in dealing with these increasingly acute issues and emphasized the need for close cooperation from all countries in and outside the region to effectively handle these global issues.

Regarding the East Sea, the two sides affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea; stressed the need for parties to resolve disputes by peaceful means, in compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; and emphasized the need to fully comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the need to soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The dialogue took place in an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding. The two sides affirmed to maintain this dialogue mechanism annually to contribute to deepening the bilateral cooperation. In that spirit, the two sides agreed that the next dialogue will take place in Australia at a suitable time in 2014.

Also on the afternoon of November 18, Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh also took time to receive the delegation.

At the meeting, Minister Phung Quang Thanh highly appreciated the defense cooperation between the two countries and suggested that the two Defense Ministries continue to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam-Australia Bilateral Defense Cooperation signed in 2010; promote multi-faceted cooperation, focusing on overcoming post-war consequences, sharing experiences and cooperating in participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Earlier, on the morning of November 18, at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense, the 2nd Vietnam-Australia Defense Dialogue took place. Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh - Deputy Minister of National Defense and Mr. Neil Orme - First Assistant Secretary General of Defense for International Policy of Australia, co-chaired the Dialogue.

Over the years, defense cooperation between the two countries has achieved positive developments, especially since the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defense cooperation in 2010.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and Mr. Neil Orme said that in order to promote the achieved results, in the coming time, the two sides need to continue to increase delegation exchanges at all levels; cooperate in training, maritime security, counter-terrorism; share experiences and support in UN peacekeeping operations, cyber security, water security and overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines. The two sides also agreed to continue to support each other in multilateral forums such as ADMM+, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

Also on the morning of November 18, the Australian delegation held a discussion with the two Institutes for Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense. Many scholars and senior officials from the two Institutes and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense attended this discussion./.

According to VNA