Vietnam defense minister joins talks with US, UK peers at Shangri-La Dialogue
Sunday, June 02, 2019, 13:21 GMT+7
Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich joined talks with defense ministers of multiple nations, including the United States and United Kingdom, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
During the conversation between Minister Lich and U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, both sides agreed that the two countries’ comprehensive partnership has achieved many positive results, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.
They consented to continue building practical defense cooperation, particularly in the area of maritime security, and underscored the importance of close cooperation on addressing the legacy of war issues.
Acting Secretary Shanahan welcomed Vietnam’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020, and praised the country’s participation in the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations.
Minister Lich asked the U.S. to continue coordinating with Vietnam in the treatment of dioxin contamination at the Bien Hoa airbase in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai.
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| Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and British Secretary of State for Defense Penny Mordaunt in Singapore on June 1, 2019. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
In his talks with British Secretary of State for Defense Penny Mordaunt, Minister Lich thanked the U.K. Ministry of Defense for providing English training for Vietnam’s peacekeeping units.
The two officials expressed their delight at the positive development of bilateral defense cooperation.
They vowed to strengthen the two nations’ strategic partnership via all-level delegation exchanges, signing of cooperative documents, mutual support at multilateral forums, and collaboration in the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations.
The Vietnamese official also met with New Zealand Minister of Defense Ron Mark, Singaporean Minister of Defense Ng Eng Heng, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamad Sabu, and Minister of Defense of Mongolia Nyamaagiin Enkhbold on the same day.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual premier defense summit, is a unique meeting where ministers debate the region’s most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks, and come up with fresh solutions together.
This year’s summit takes place from May 31 to June 2.
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