Viet Nam, Italy hold 5th defense policy dialogue in Ha Noi

Hoang affirmed that Viet Nam consistently sticks to the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and multilateralization and diversification of external relations. 

The Southeast Asian country remains steadfast with its “four nos” defense policy - no partaking in military alliances, no siding with one country to act against another, no foreign military bases in the Vietnamese territory or using Viet Nam as leverage to counteract other countries, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations, he reassured.

On the East Sea issue, Viet Nam’s consistent stance is to persistently strive to resolve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and to support the prompt conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), Hoang emphasized.

He pledged that Ministry of National Defense is ready to receive Italian military personnel to participate in the International Defense Officials Course at the National Defence Academy and to study the Vietnamese language at the Military Science Academy.

He suggested that the two countries should focus on exploring the possibility of signing cooperation documents; continue to promote the exchange of delegations at various levels, and enhance collaboration in training, defence industry, and United Nations peacekeeping.

The Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense called for studying and expanding mechanisms and forms of exchange and consultation to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

He urged the two sides to continue to close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations and within the framework of ASEAN and the European Union.

Hoang sought Italy's support for the European Commission to soon lift the "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood exports, and advocate Viet Nam's efforts to promote defense cooperation with the European Union under the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) on Viet Nam participation in the the European Union's crisis management operations.

Cremnago said Viet Nam and Italy share a common vision regarding the global situation, and both sides are committed to high international missions, and focusing on developing new technologies, with the desire to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world.

He affirmed Italy’s interest and desire to advance defense cooperation with Viet Nam, thereby laying the foundation for new and practical development steps in the bilateral relationship. 

Cremnago also noted that Italy has expertise and capacity in bomb and mine clearance and is ready to cooperate with Viet Nam in this field.

At the dialogue, the two sides signed the dialogue minutes and a letter of intent to establish a working group on bilateral cooperation in the field of defense equipment./.