Deputy Minister of National Defense visits the US

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh visited the US from September 26-29 to discuss the first ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus and to prepare for US Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ visit to Vietnam on October 11.

The ADMM Plus is scheduled to take place on October 12, attracting the defense ministers of 10 ASEAN countries, 8 partners including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and the US and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.

Mr Vinh said that the US Department of Defense and the Government support the ADMM plus and that Vietnam wants the US to actively engage in the meeting as well as cope with non-tradition challenges. The meeting will also touch upon issues related to the East Sea, trade liberalisation, sea lanes, and sovereignty.

Regarding Vietnam-US relations in defense, Mr Vinh said that both countries have made great strides in this field, which was highlighted by President Barack Obama’s speech delivered at the ASEAN- US Summit in Singapore in 2009 and Deputy Minister of National Defense Phung Quang Thanh’s visit to the US late last year.

The US put forward initiatives for cooperation and accepted responsibility for dealing with humanitarian issues and the consequences of war. The US also supported the ADMM Plus as it respects ASEAN countries’ independence and self-reliance without being detrimental to the interests of other countries.

Mr Vinh said he hoped that the Vietnam-US defense relations would grow further while adding that during US Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ forthcoming visit to Vietnam, the two countries will discuss ways of stepping up the search for US soldiers missing in action (MIA), resolving the consequences of the war and training, including teaching English to Vietnamese and teaching Vietnamese to Americans.