Colonel Vo Van Thanh speaking at the event (Photo: tuyengiao.vn)
At the event, Colonel Vo Van Thanh, Vietnamese Defence Attaché in the UK, briefed participants on the VPA’s development over the past 75 years and the birth of the All-People’s Defence Festival.
According to Mr. Thanh, Vietnam now has defence ties with more than 80 countries worldwide, and the country has played an active role in regional and international cooperative activities in this sphere, especially UN peace-keeping operations.
He emphasized that the Vietnam-UK defence collaboration has contributed to the VPA’s development and international integration, with various activities like delegation exchanges, training and UN peacekeeping.
Since the two countries signed the first memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation in 2011, bilateral defence ties have taken major strides, contributing to their strategic partnership.
The two sides have held annual Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level. The British Ministry of Defence is one of the leading partners of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, especially in language and peace-keeping force training, he said.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy and Defence Attaché Office introduced the 2019 White Paper on Vietnam’s National Defence.
*Previously, on December 3rd, a ceremony was also held in Singapore to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to SingaporeTao Thi Thanh Huong highlighted Vietnam’s motto for national defence, which is “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Vietnamese Ambassador to SingaporeTao Thi Thanh Huong delivers her speech at the event (Photo: VNA)
According to the ambassador, Vietnam aims to combine economy with national defence and security and foreign relations in order to serve national construction and protection.
At the event, Colonel Do Mai Khanh, Vietnamese Defence Attaché in Singapore, briefed the delegates on the 2019 White Paper on Vietnam’s National Defence that features major policies as well as challenges to the country’s defence.
Guests at the event (Photo: VNA)
The introduction of the White Paper aims to make Vietnam’s national defence policy transparent, thus contributing to enhancing understanding and trust between the Vietnamese army and people with their foreign counterparts, and improving cooperation between Vietnam and other countries along with regional and international organisations in dealing with emerging security issues./.