Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Defence
Today in Hanoi for the inaugural ASEAN-Plus Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM+), I met the meeting's host, Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defence Cooperation.
The MOU reflects the growing bilateral defence relationship between Australia and Vietnam.
It will provide the framework for enhanced practical cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in areas including strategic-level policy dialogue, military training and exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Today’s signing follows the establishment of the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership Agreement by our two Prime Ministers in 2009, covering the fields of trade, development assistance, security and defence, and people-to-people links.
In addition to signing the MOU, Defence Minister Thanh and I discussed the importance of the ADMM+ to promote cooperation in peace and security matters including maritime security, peacekeeping, and humanitarian and disaster relief.
