On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member and Minister of National Defence, and Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on the EU side signed the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) in Belgium’s capital of Brussels on October 17.
The signing of the FPA marked an important development milestone in the bilateral defence relations, contributing to enhancing and deepening the Vietnam-EU Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA).
Based on that principle, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has chosen to work with the EU in establishing a defence policy dialogue with the European External Action Service, training, participating in the UN peacekeeping activities and addressing post-war consequences.
After the signing ceremony, Minister Lich had a meeting with Federica Mogherini, during which the two sides affirmed their determination to boost the bilateral defence partnership to increase mutual understanding and support the regional security architecture with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) playing the central role.
Federica Mogherini said the EU and its member countries are concerned about the complicated situation in the East Sea in recent time. The EU called on involved parties to comply with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The EU supports negotiations to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in a transparent manner for the interests of countries in the region and partner nations, she said.
Earlier on October 16, Minister Lich held a meeting with Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC), General Claudio Graziano.
Minister Lich proposed the EU continue supporting the Vietnamese defence ministry in training English and French for Vietnamese military personnel. He asked General Claudio Graziano to use his position to create conditions for Vietnam to boost defence cooperation with the EU in general and its member countries in particular.
Claudio Graziano voiced his hope that Vietnam will serve as a bridge to bolster cooperative relations, including defence ties, between the EU and ASEAN as well as the bloc’s member states.
