Vietnam, South Africa beef up defence cooperation

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien on June 12 received South African Defence Attaché Colonel Eugene Dudley, who came to say goodbye before ending his working term in Vietnam.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (R) and South African Defence Attaché Colonel Eugene Dudley at their meeting in Hanoi on June 12. (Photo: qdnd.vn)
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (R) and South African Defence Attaché Colonel Eugene Dudley at their meeting in Hanoi on June 12. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Chien said Dudley’s contributions in his post and as the head of the military attaché delegation of foreign countries in Vietnam have served the promotion of the Vietnam-South Africa defence cooperation and effective implementation of activities by the delegation.

The official noted that with South Africa considered an active partner of Vietnam, the two nations’ defence collaboration has been bolstered in accordance with their 2006 agreement on relations in the field.

Chien proposed the sides soon promote the signing of a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, thereby creating a new impetus to strengthen the ties towards the 30th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations (1993 - 2023).

It is also necessary to effectively maintain consultation, dialogue and delegation exchange mechanisms; promote bilateral collaboration in training, defence industry, and military medicine with respect to the potential and needs of each nation, added the deputy minister.

He also suggested the sides fortify cooperation and experience sharing in UN peacekeeping participation and soon seal cooperation documents in the area.

In response, Dudley highlighted progress made in the Vietnam-South Africa defence ties and thanked units under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence for their support during his tenure.

He expressed his wish that the countries’ relations and their defence cooperation will grow further in the time to come.

VNA