Vietnam seeks closer ties with australia

Hanoi (VNA) – A Vietnam – Australia training course on service rifle shooting skills wrapped up in Hanoi on February 18 after 12 days. During the course, 19 officers were trained in sniper rifle shooting skills and 25 others sharpened their skills in rifles and handguns. Deputy head of the Department of Politico-Military Training under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Maj. Gen Tran Van Ba said the training course contributed to nurturing ties between the two armies, and helped officers of both sides prepare for the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet (AASAM) 2020. Vietnam joined the event for the first time in 2019. Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, for her part, also believed that the bonds that the Australian and Vietnamese participants have set up during the course  will help promote bilateral defence ties based on shared vision and mutual respect, and the two armies will hold more effective activities to contribute … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Australia course on service rifle shooting skills wraps up

Hanoi (VNA) – Defence ministers of ASEAN member nations and Australia attended an informal meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Retreat in Hanoi on February 19 under the chair of Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich. Speaking at the event, Lich said this was the first time both sides have held a meeting to discuss the regional security situation and promote bilateral defence ties. The Vietnamese minister noted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia established cooperative ties in 1974 and upgraded the relationship to the level of strategic partnership in 2014. Australia was the first country to form a dialogue partnership with ASEAN in the fields of politics, economy and specialised cooperation. It could be confirmed that Australia is a top important partner of ASEAN in various areas and has made important contributions to ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms in the region, he said, adding that ASEAN … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Australia defence ministers attend informal meeting

Việt Nam hoped Laos and other ASEAN members would join hands to consolidate defence – military co-operation mechanisms and build an ASEAN Community that is cohesive and responsive to external factors in line with the 2020 theme of “Defence co-operation for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN”, chosen by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, Lịch noted. … [Read more...] about ASEAN 2020: Defence ministers of Việt Nam, Laos, Australia meet in Hà Nội

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong was elected as Chair of the Vietnam – Bulgaria Friendship Association for the 2018-2023 tenure during its fourth National Congress in Hanoi on April 19. The Congress also elected its executive board (fourth tenure) with 51 members. During 2018-2023, the association will launch activities to raise mutual understanding between the two peoples as well as boost exchanges with Bulgarian partners to seek cooperation opportunities in culture, education, tourism, economy and trade. It will also develop its member network, boost information exchange with its chapters and people-to-people diplomacy, popularise Vietnam and its images in Bulgaria, step up tourism and trade between the two nations, and serve as a bridge connecting the two countries’ businesses. Agreeing with the association’s tasks in the near future, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association elects new Chair

Rome (VNA) – The European Parliament’s approval of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) marks the start of a new era with significance meaning in the trade ties between Vietnam and EU members, according to an Italian expert on Vietnam. Director of the Centre for Vietnam Studies in Turin of Italy Sandra Scagliotti wrote in an article that the EVFTA along with the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVITA) opens up a new period in the development of both Vietnam and the EU. She said the advantages brought by the two agreements are tremendous for EU investors. For Italian businesses, the EVFTA can be considered a mutually beneficial deal, creating big positive effects on their long-term business and investment plans. Sharing Sandra Scagliotti’s assessment, Chairman of the Italy-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce Fulvio Albano affirmed that the bilateral Italy-Vietnam relationship has continuously developed in recent years. In such a … [Read more...] about EVFTA opens up new era in EU-Vietnam trade ties: Italian experts