Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich hosted an official welcome ceremony for and held talks with his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan in Hanoi on June 5^th.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (R) welcomes his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan in Hanoi on June 5^th. (Photo: VNA)

At the talks, the two sides exchanged views on world and regional issues of shared concern, reviewed bilateral defence cooperation over the past years, and discussed orientations and measures to bolster defence ties in the time ahead.

They focused on some potential cooperation fields like training, participation in United Nations peacekeeping activities, marine security, defence industry, and military medicine.

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence welcomes Canada’s continued support for the Southeast Asian nation in training and engaging in U.N. peacekeeping activities, Lich said.

At the end of the talks, the two ministers witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the Military Training and Cooperation Programme of Canada. This memorandum is expected to help Vietnamese officers to have more chances to take part in perse training courses in Canada.

It is considered an important development in bilateral defence relations, creating favourable conditions for both sides to promote other potential cooperation areas.

Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan is paying an official visit to Vietnam from June 4^th to 6^th.

The trip is significant to the friendship between the Governments, armies and people of the two countries, as well as the growth of their defence ties in line with the newly established Vietnam-Canada comprehensive partnership. It is also a practical contribution to the 45^th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (August 21^st, 1973)./.

VNF/VNA