Vietnam, France forge defence ties

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam (R) and Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand (Source: VNA)

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand, Joint Commander Armed Forces in French Polynesia and Commander of the French Polynesian and Pacific Maritime Zones, agreed that bilateral defence ties have been enhanced in training, military medicine, peacekeeping missions and defence industry. During a meeting in Hanoi on March 20, the officers stressed that the two countries boast substantial potential for defence collaboration, expressing their hope for more pragmatic defence affiliation in the future. Lauding the outcomes of working sessions between Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand and representatives of VPA’s agencies and units, Nam said the VPA’s General Staff will create the best possible conditions for exchanges and meetings between the two sides. Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand pledged to contribute more to enhancing defence ties between Vietnam and France, especially via navies. On March 19, the Rear Admiral visited the Vietnam People’s Navy in the northern port city of Hai Phong where he was received by Rear Admiral Hoang Hong Ha, Deputy Commander of the Navy. Ha noted his hope that the Vietnamese and French naval forces will intensify delegation exchange and further cooperation in training, rescue operations at sea and natural catastrophic aid, as well as issues of shared concern in Asia and globally. Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand said his visit aims to materialise the defence cooperation plan between Vietnam and France in 2018 adopted at the second Vietnam-France Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy defence ministerial level, while seeking ways to boost friendship and cooperation between the two defence ministries.-VNA