Vietnam attends US-ASEAN defence forum

A Vietnamese delegation led by Defence Minister, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh is in Honolulu, Hawaii state, to attend the US – ASEAN defence forum, the first of its kind ever held in the US.

Defence Minister, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh

The April 1-3 forum serves as a venue for defence ministers to talk about a future of safety, dynamism and peace for the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia in particular, and ways to boost bilateral defence cooperation in rescue and post-disaster recovery.

Besides discussions, they will also tour several defence facilities in Honolulu.

In its statement on April 1, the Pentagon announced that the forum will start a 10-day visit to Japan, China and Mongolia by US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel. His fourth Asia visit is meant to reaffirm “Pivot toward Asia” policy by Barack Obama administration.