Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (Photo: VNA)

Singapore (VNA) – Minister of Defence, General Ngo Xuan Lich had talks with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen, during which he affirmed that promoting friendship and cooperation with ASEAN countries, especially Singapore, is one of the priorities of Vietnam’s external policies. 

At the talks, the two ministers agreed that defence cooperation between the two countries have been effective in line with the Agreement of Bilateral Defence Cooperation signed between the two ministries in 2009. 

Notably, the two sides have made regular exchanges of delegations, while fostering cooperation between naval and air forces as well as in military medicine and training, which contribute to the strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries’ armed forces and peoples. 

Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the meeting is significant to speed up the implementation of agreements between the two ministries, while sketching measures to make the deals more effective. 

The two defence chiefs concurred to assign authorised agencies to work together to speed up practical affiliation contents, focusing on exchanging delegations and meetings among young officers as well as sharing information and experience. 

Both sides will maintain and enhance the efficiency of dialogue mechanisms, especially the Defence Policy Dialogue at deputy minister level. 

At the same time, they will forge stronger partnership in training, especially language training, while working closely together in military medicine, cyber security, and coping with non-traditional security challenges. 

The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination, consultation as well as mutual support at multilateral forum, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting (ADMM), the ADMM+. 

The two ministers held that the efficient partnership between ASEAN and partners will help fostering intra-bloc solidarity, maintaining the central role as well as the consensus principle of the association, thus contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability and development in the region. 

Minister Lich, who is on a visit to Singapore from October 23-25, also paid a courtesy call to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who expressed his hope that the two defence ministries will promote the achievements of their partnership and seeking new cooperation areas to make bilateral defence ties deeper, more practical and efficient. 

The PM pledged that the Singaporean Government and himself will support and create all favourable conditions to the two ministries to further their ties. 

The Minister said he is delighted at the growing bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields, vowing that Vietnam always treasures the sound friendship with Singapore and gives top pritority to strengthening the ties. 

He also affirmed that the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam will continue the close and effective partnership with Singapore’s Defence Ministry, thus contributing to the growth of bilat𝔍eral ties.-VNA