Vietnam, US discuss defence cooperation
VNA - Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh met with US Senator Patrick Leahy and senior officials from the US Departments of State and Defence on March 23 and 24 to discuss practical measures on boosting bilateral defence cooperation.
The Deputy Defence Minister held working sessions with Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs David Shear and Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Puneet Talwar.
He also met Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability and Humanitarian Affairs Anne Witkowsky, the Commandant of the US Coast Guard Admiral Paul Zunkunft and Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Jennifer Zakriski.
In those meetings, the two sides shared viewpoints on issues of common concern; assessed bilateral cooperation results achieved and agreed that defence cooperation in the past years has met the two sides’ expectations.
Relating to cooperation orientation in upcoming times, the two sides discussed and agreed on measures to achieve desired outcomes in cooperation fields such as mines and explosive clearance, dioxin detoxification at seriously contaminated sites, the search of missing soldiers and helping war victims.
The two sides agreed to boost cooperation in the United Nations’ peacekeeping activities and said Vietnam’s participation is evidence of the responsibility of a member nation of the UN.
The US officials all hoped to continue strengthening defence cooperation with Vietnam in line with the general relationship on the principle of mutually respect for Vietnam’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity without affecting Vietnam’s relations with other countries, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole.
Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh expressed their delight at the results achieved in bilateral defence cooperation and said the two sides took proper steps.
He also recommended that in 2015, which marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, defence cooperation needs to make practical and effective contributions to the general relationship, meeting expectations and interest of the two countries’ people.-VNA
