Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (Photo: VNA)London (VNA) – Vietnam and the United Kingdom (UK) have agreed tostep up defence cooperation, Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General NguyenChi Vinh has said.
He made the statement during an interview with a London-based Vietnam NewsAgency correspondent during his working visit to the UK to attend the firstVietnam-UK Defence Policy Dialogue from November 27-30.
The dialogue took place with the countries celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, he said, adding they have seenpositive developments in policy dialogue relations after signing a deal ondefence collaboration in 2011.
In addition, bilateral defence ties have been elevated to a level commensuratewith the strategic partnership between the two nations, he stressed.
Touching on cooperation between the two militaries, Vinh said that they haveexchanged high-level delegations to study defence policies in each nation.
Besides language training, cooperation in United Nations peacekeepingoperations is a bright point in bilateral defence ties. The UK handed overfacilities of the level-2 field hospital in South Sudan in 2018, helpingVietnam reduce cost and time to build a new hospital in the African country, hesaid, highlighting that the transfer received applause from the UN and the hostnation.
The UK stands ready to provide training in English language, military medicineand peacekeeping knowledge for Vietnam in preparation for the country toimplement its second level-2 field hospital in replacement of the first onenext year.
Also, the UK Ministry of Defence has affirmed it will back Vietnam in trainingand share experience as Vietnam plans to send groups of sappers to Africa inthe near future.
Furthermore, Vietnam and the UK have close ties inmedical medicine, hydrographics, maps and marine security, Vinh noted, statingthat both sides have a common voice on various issues, ensuring win-winbenefits and regional and global peace and stability.-VNA
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