2nd Vietnam-Canada Defense Policy Dialogue

On September 21 (local time), at the Headquarters of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense in Ottawa, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Mr. Bill Matthews, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Canada co-chaired the 2nd Vietnam-Canada Defense Policy Dialogue.

Scene of the 2nd Vietnam-Canada Defense Policy Dialogue in Canada.

Also attending was Comrade Pham Vinh Quang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Canada. This dialogue took place in a special context when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2023), which is an important basis for continuing to implement the defense cooperation relationship between the two countries in an increasingly practical and effective manner, contributing to further deepening the Vietnam-Canada Comprehensive Partnership . At the Dialogue, the two Heads of Delegation highly appreciated the results of defense cooperation in recent times, in line with the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation signed in 2019, the 3-year Defense Cooperation Plan for the period 2021-2023 and has achieved positive results in areas such as: high-level contacts, delegation exchanges; dialogue-consultation; training; United Nations peacekeeping ; maritime security; defense industry; border management, migration; cooperation in regional and international multilateral forums. In the coming time, the two sides agreed to continue promoting defense cooperation in accordance with signed documents and agreements, focusing on the exchange of delegations, effectively maintaining established Dialogue-Consultation mechanisms; improving the effectiveness and quality of cooperation in human resource training, especially for maritime law enforcement forces, border security, and sharing strategic information; promoting cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping; consulting and supporting each other in regional and international security forums, contributing to peace, stability and common development in the region and the world . Regarding the world and regional situation, the two sides shared issues of common concern, in which the Canadian side highly appreciated the role and position of ASEAN and Vietnam; supported the central role of ASEAN in ASEAN-led mechanisms; affirmed the importance of ensuring freedom, security, and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, and friendship; multilateralization and diversification; upholding the "four no's" principle; and resolutely and persistently resolving all disagreements in the East Sea by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS 1982. On this occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien also respectfully invited Mr. Bill Matthews and leaders of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense, along with defense enterprises to visit Vietnam and attend the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024.

Delegates attending the 2nd Vietnam-Canada Defense Policy Dialogue in Canada.

At the end of the Dialogue, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of United Nations peacekeeping and a 3-year Cooperation Plan for the period 2024-2026, which will serve as a basis for orienting the implementation of cooperation contents that both sides have needs and potential in the coming time. * Previously, on the afternoon of September 20, General Wayne Donald Eyre, Commander of the Canadian Defense Forces, received and met with the delegation. The Commander of the Canadian Defense Forces welcomed the high-ranking military delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam to attend the 2nd Defense Policy Dialogue in Canada, contributing to the activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023). General Wayne Donald Eyre affirmed that he attaches importance to Vietnam's position in Canada's foreign policy in the region and, in his position, will continue to create conditions to promote bilateral defense cooperation in the coming time, with priority given to training cooperation and United Nations peacekeeping. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien thanked the Commander of the Canadian Defense Force for taking the time to welcome and meet with the delegation; affirmed that in foreign policy, Vietnam always attaches importance to Canada's position; assessed that defense cooperation in recent times has been actively and practically implemented by both sides and in accordance with the documents and agreements signed by both sides. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that bilateral defense cooperation still has much room for development; in the coming time, he requested that the leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the Canadian Defense Force continue to pay attention to and support the promotion of cooperation between the two sides, focusing on areas such as delegation exchanges, high-level contacts and consultation-dialogue mechanisms; Prioritizing cooperation in capacity building for maritime law enforcement forces, training, UN peacekeeping, defense industry, overcoming the consequences of war; strengthening cooperation with ASEAN through multilateral cooperation mechanisms for peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world. Also within the framework of the working trip, the high-ranking military delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of our country visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada and the Embassy's Vietnam House.

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