Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh led a delegation of Vietnamese defence officers to attend a meeting of EU Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) in Brussels from May 19-22 at the invitation of Chairman of the EU Military Committee, General Claudio Graziano.
Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (Source: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) – Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt.Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh led a delegation of Vietnamese defence officers toattend a meeting of EU Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) inBrussels from May 19-22 at the invitation of Chairman of the EU Military Committee,General Claudio Graziano.
At the conference,the delegation joined discussions on non-combat training mission and on the "Single European Sky”, during which Vinh affirmed that Vietnam highlyvalues the position and role of the EU and the Vietnam-EU defense cooperation.
He shared Vietnam's experiences in participating in training and coachingactivities prepared for UN peacekeeping forces.
The official stressed the two sides need to soon complete thenegotiations and signing of an agreement between the Vietnamese Government andthe EU on establishing Vietnam's participation framework in crisis managementactivities of the EU (Framework Participation Agreement (FPA)) to lay a foundationfor their cooperation.
The two sides should actively share their experience in areas of potential cooperation,especially in the field of UN peacekeeping, he added.
Within the framework of their trip, the Vietnamese delegation had a workingsession with General Claudio Graziano, duringwhich the EU official applauded Vietnam’s participation in the event and wishedto continue strengthening defense cooperation with Vietnam.
He said the enhanced cooperation with Vietnam helps strengthen the EU’sposition, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
The committee wants to further support Vietnam in training, especially in the fieldsof peacekeeping and foreign language training, he said, expressing his hopethat Vietnam will share its experiences with EU member countries in terms of peacekeeping.
For his part, Vinh expressed his desire to expand defense cooperation with theEU, foscusing on training and peacekeeping.
The two sides agreed to assign their relevant agencies to reach consensus on technical-relatedissues in order to soon sign a memorandum of understanding on Vietnam-EUdefense cooperation.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese delegation had workingsessions with relevant agencies of the EU and defence commanders of othercountries to discuss orientations for cooperation in the coming time, and callfor their support for Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent member ofthe UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 tenure.-VNA
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Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (Source: VNA) 
