Vietnam, South Africa enhance defence links
VOV.VN - Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defence on June 12 hosted a reception for South African Defence Attaché, Colonel Eugene Dudley, who came to bid adieu before finishing his term of office in Vietnam.
During the meeting Deputy Minister Chien congratulated Colonel Eugene Dudley on completing his working term in Vietnam and hailed his contributions during his time serving as South African Defence Attaché and Head of Military Attaché delegations from other countries in Vietnam.
His efforts contributed to stepping up defence links between both sides and effectively implementing the activities of the Military Attachés of other countries in the Southeast Asian nation.
Emphasising that South Africa represents one of the Vietnamese side’s active partners in Africa in terms of defence co-operation, Deputy Minister Chien said that over recent times, defence ties between the two countries has been promoted in accordance with the agreement on defence ties signed back in 2006.
Deputy Minister Chien suggested that both sides could soon accelerate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence links, thereby adding fresh impetus to strengthening bilateral defence ties towards the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations which were first agreed upon back in 1993.
This can be done with maintaining effective consultation, dialogue and delegation exchange mechanisms, augmenting ties in training, defence industry, and military medicine in line with the potential and needs of each respective country.
The two sides must strive to strengthen linkages, share experience in participating in UN peacekeeping activities, as well as swiftly signing co-operation documents in this field.
In response, Colonel Eugene Dudley expressed his honour at having the opportunity to work in Vietnam as a South African Defence Attaché and Head of Military Attaché delegations from other countries in Vietnam, adding that over recent times, defence co-operation between the two countries recorded certain achievements.
He thanked the relevant agencies of the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence for their support and co-operation given during his term of office in Vietnam and expressed hope that mutual relations, as well as defence links between the two countries, will continue to develop along with an increasingly close connection.