Vietnam, Indonesia hold meeting of joint working group on defence - military ties

The event aimed to prepare for the two countries’ second defence policy dialogue slated for October, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily reported.

Colonel Vu Thanh Van, Director of the External Relations Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, expressed the willingness to join hands with the Indonesian side to help promote defence and military cooperation.

He noted in the Vietnam - Indonesia strategic partnership, bilateral defence and military links have maintained a positive development trend in the recent past.

Amid the complex COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation of the joint working group’s fourth meeting reflected both sides’ proactiveness, flexibility, and determination to maintain contact and enhance defence - military relations, according to the officer.

Both sides shared the view that the joint working group has shown its effectiveness in helping to develop substantive defence - military ties between Vietnam and Indonesia.

Notably, leaders of the two militaries have paid mutual visits on the occasion of each other’s important events. The countries have also maintained and made good use of the consultation and information exchange mechanisms; shared experience between their military arms and services; cooperated in the defence industry; and supported and consulted each other at multilateral forums.

Regarding cooperation orientations for the time ahead, the two officials agreed to propose their defence ministries’ leaders increase mutual visits, especially at high levels, to boost viewpoint sharing and trust building; bring into play consultation and dialogue mechanisms; augment ties in personnel training; continue supporting each other at multilateral forums; and consider expanding cooperation to more areas such as search, rescue, and military medicine, particularly in COVID-19 response.