Vietnam to reinforce defence ties with New Zealand, UK, Singapore
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich had bilateral meetings with defence officials of New Zealand, the UK and Singapore on June 1 on the sidelines of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) meets with Defence Minister of New Zealand Ron Mark in Singapore on June 1 (Photo: VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of NationalDefence General Ngo Xuan Lich had bilateral meetings with defence officials ofNew Zealand, the UK and Singapore on June 1 on the sidelines of the 17thShangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Meeting with Defence Minister of New Zealand RonMark, Minister Lich expressed his delight at the recent development ofVietnam-New Zealand relations, including defence ties. He noted the two sideshave frequently exchanged delegations at all levels and supported each other atmultilateral forums, adding that visits by naval ships have also contributed totheir connections.
He thanked the Defence Ministry of New Zealandfor effectively helping to provide English training for Vietnamese officers totake part in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The two ministers agreed to bolster cooperationin the fields matching their demand such as training, cyber security, searchand rescue, and participation in UN peacekeeping activities.
Talking to UK Defence Secretary GavinWilliamson, Lich appreciated the UK’s support for Vietnam to replace theBritish level-2 field hospital in South Sudan and improve English skills ofofficers preparing to join UN peacekeeping missions.
To bring defence ties on par with the countries’strategic partnership, the two sides agreed to increase all-level mutualvisits, effectively carry out dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, continue to completeand sign cooperation documents, support each other at multilateral forums, andenhance ties in UN peacekeeping.
At the meeting with Singaporean Defence MinisterNg Eng Heng, the Vietnamese official congratulated Singapore and its army onsuccessfully organising the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat and theASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting. He voiced his belief that thecountry will fulfil the tasks of ASEAN Chair in 2018, thus helping to maintainthe bloc’s central role and leadership.
The two ministers shared the view that over thepast years, especially since the signing of the bilateral defence cooperationagreement in 2009, their defence relations have grown positively and resultedin initial practical outcomes.
Authorised agencies have been coordinatingactively to implement the agreement, focusing on delegation exchanges,personnel training, exchanges of young officers, cooperation between naval, airand military medicine forces, collaboration between strategic researchinstitutes, and coordination at multilateral forums, they noted.
Minister Lich asked Singapore to support Vietnamwhen his country acts as ASEAN Chair in 2020.-VNA
The US will continue fostering cooperation with Vietnam in defence, search and rescue, disaster relief, maritime security, peacekeeping, and war aftermath settlement, said US Secretary of Defence James Mattis.
Major General Ngo Minh Tien, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has called on the Vietnamese and Venezuelan armies to exchange delegations and experience in Party-building and political and logistics work.
The Shangri-La Dialogue 2018 is set to last from June 1-3 in Singapore with the participation of defence ministers and officials from 50 countries worldwide and representatives from international organisations.
US Secretary of Defence James Mattis urged Vietnam and the US to enhance cooperation in defence industry and consider signing suitable documents to create a foundation for the collaboration.
The French Navy’s Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf with 713 officers and sailors on board began their five-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City on June 1.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) meets with Defence Minister of New Zealand Ron Mark in Singapore on June 1 (Photo: VNA) 
