(AseanAll) — On February 20,2025 in Hanoi, the 3rd Vietnam - Canada defence policy dialogue took place under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and his Canadian counterpart Stefanie Beck,according to Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam.
Photo source:Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam
Congratulating Ms. Stefanie Beck on her appointment as Deputy Minister of National Defence (in June 2024), Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his belief that, in her new position, she would make significant contributions to further promoting the Vietnam - Canada Comprehensive Partnership in general and defence cooperation in particular, for the benefit of both countries and their armies, as well as for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world at large.
Hoang Xuan Chien emphasised that bilateral defence cooperation has been actively deployed by both sides in accordance with signed agreements, particularly since the 2nd Vietnam - Canada defence policy dialogue in September 2023, in line with the needs and capabilities of each side and yielding concrete results, especially in the exchange of delegations at all levels, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, training, United Nations peacekeeping operations, defence industry, war legacy remediation, and border management. In addition, both sides have coordinated and supported each other in multilateral mechanisms and forums.
Looking ahead, Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides continue to further strengthen cooperation and effectively implement key areas, including maintaining delegation exchanges at all levels, sustaining the established dialogue and consultation mechanisms, expanding training collaboration, sharing experiences and enhancing capacity of Vietnam’s UN peacekeeping force; enhancing cooperation in defence industry, war legacy remediation, and border management. Furthermore, he affirmed that Vietnam supports Canada’s desire to join the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) on the basis of ASEAN consensus.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Deputy Minister of National Defence Stefanie Beck signing the minutes of the dialogue. Photo source:Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam
At the dialogue, the two sides exchanged their views on regional and global issues of shared concern. Hoang Xuan Chien reiterated Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations. Vietnam is willing to cooperate with countries and international organisations for peace and development in the region and the world, he stated, stressing that it remains committed to settling disputes through peaceful means in line with international law. Regarding the South China Sea(Vietnam calls it the East Sea) issue, he emphasised the need to respect international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and accelerate negotiations to finalise an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).
For her part, Ms. Stefanie Beck appreciated the positive outcomes achieved in bilateral defence cooperation in recent times and expressed her hope that future collaboration will be further strengthened based on the agreed-upon areas to make it more substantive and effective.
At the end of the event, the two sides signed the minutes of the 3rd Vietnam - Canada defence policy dialogue.
