Seoul (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister ofNational Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang and his Republic of Korea (RoK) counterpart LeeJong-sup agreed to strengthen the bilateral defence cooperation, making itmatch potential of the two countries and their relations, during their talks inSeoul on March 28.

Lee highly valued the fine relationship between Vietnamand the RoK over the past time, with the defence cooperation growing moreintensive, extensive and effective.

Giang said he believes that his visit to the RoK, fromMarch 27-29, will help to concretise the contents of the bilateralcomprehensive strategic partnership in the field of defence.

Exchanging views on regional security with his host, Giangsaid Vietnam consistently pursues the ‘Four No’s’ policy,which was specified in the 2019 Vietnam National Defence White Paper.

Regarding maritime security, the Vietnamese defence minister stressed thatchallenges regarding security and safety of navigation and territory andsovereignty disputes in Asia-Pacific in general and the East Sea in particular, have posedrisks to peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region and the worldas well.   

In such circumstances, relevant sides should uphold the rule of law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS),he suggested.

As for the East Sea, the two ministers shared the viewthat the sides need to observe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC) and work for the early conclusion of negotiations on and signing of a substantive andeffective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law.

Minister Giang stressed that Vietnam persistently addresses all disagreements inthe waters by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, includingthe 1982 UNCLOS. 

Both sides shared the view that the bilateral cooperation has receivedthe attention of the two ministries’ leaders, and produced practical results.

The two sides have maintained cooperation mechanismsand delegation exchanges, especially the defence policy dialogue at the deputyministerial level, and cooperation in such areas as personnel training, defenceintelligence, military security, cyber security and military medicine has beenpromoted effectively and practically.

Cooperation between military forces has also been stepped up, withcooperation between naval forces being a bright spot, according to theofficials.

They also reviewed partnerships in defence industryand the settlement of consequences of war-left bombs and mines, as well astheir coordination and consultation at multilateral forums, and theirsupport for multilateral activities organised by each side.

The ministers consented to increase the exchange ofdelegations, especially those at the high level, and maintain and promote the existingcooperation mechanisms.

Giang suggested Lee himself and the Korean ministry to call on other ministries, agencies and organisations of theRoK, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea InternationalCooperation Agency (KOICA), to continue coordinating with and assisting Vietnamin war consequence settlement, post-war dioxin remediation and supporting bomb,mine and AO/dioxin victims.

The two sides agreed to continue with mutual consultationand support at multilateral forums, particularly the mechanisms led by theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and support each other’smultilateral activities.

Minister Giang said Vietnam backs the organisation of an informalmeeting between defence ministers of ASEAN and the RoK on the basis of the ten-membergrouping’s consensus, and stands ready to send delegations to the SeoulDefence Dialogue and the ASEAN-RoK deputy defence ministers’ meeting once theyare convened.

At the end of their talks, the ministers witnessed theexchange of terms of reference consultation between the two navies, which serveas the basis for the forces to strengthen their cooperation.

On this occasion, Giang invited Lee to visit Vietnamat an appropriate time./.