Vietnam, RoK hold 11th defence policy dialogue

Both sides reviewed results of their cooperation, discussed issues of shared concerns, and agreed on orientations for joint work in the time ahead.

Chien stated that the bilateral ties have been strengthened across multiple areas, including defence, following the upgrade of the Vietnam-RoK relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022.

With support from their leaders, bilateral defence cooperation has reaped practical outcomes regarding delegation exchanges, education-training, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, defence industry, military trade, war aftermath alleviation, cybersecurity, military medicine, and UN peacekeeping. The sides have also consulted and backed each other at related multilateral forums and mechanisms, particularly ASEAN-led mechanisms, Chien said

He suggested they continue to intensify joint work in these fields, and affirmed the Vietnamese defence ministry’s willingness to host senior officers from the RoK attending training courses at the National Defence Academy and Vietnamese language courses at the Military Science Academy in Vietnam. 

He thanked the RoK Government for granting a total of US$34 million for two projects on tackling wartime bombs in Vietnam.

For his part, Kim said that the RoK desires to expand its defence collaboration with Vietnam and proposed the sides maintain current joint activities and explore new cooperation areas based on their friendship. At the dialogue, the officials compared notes on the global and regional situations of mutual concerns.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Chien stressed that Vietnam remains steadfast in resolving all disputes through peaceful means, based on international law and commitments in the region, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the ASEAN six-point principles on the East Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the waters (DOC), and the promotion of substantive and effective negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Concerning the situation on the Korean Peninsula, he said Vietnam maintains its stance against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and supports the denuclearisation of the area and the resolution of issues through peaceful dialogue.

The deputy ministers also signed the dialogue’s minutes.