HA NOI — Viet Nam's defence policy is to base itself on its own strength to protect the motherland, maintain the viewpoint of independence and self-control, advocate not to participate in any military alliance and to not take sides with one country against another.
Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh made the statement regarding the recent visit by a delegation of Viet Nam's inter-ministerial officials to the USS George Washington aircraft carrier and a visit to the central city of Da Nang by the US naval ship USS John McCain.
In an interview with army newspaper Quan doi Nhan dan on Saturday, Vinh affirmed the ships' visits were conducted in accordance with practices between sovereign nations and showed the Party and the State's foreign policy of independence and self-control.
Viet Nam was willing to be a friendly and reliable partner with all countries, he said.
He highlighted naval ties with neighbouring countries such as China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, emphasising co-operation in joint patrols, establishment of hotlines and rescue activities.
Developing naval relations with China was a priority of the Vietnamese defence ministry's external affairs, benefiting both countries in the spirit of a comprehensive strategic partnership committed to by the Party and State leaders of the two nations, he said.
Vinh rejected "wrong information" published in the foreign press, such as "Viet Nam and US hold joint navy manoeuvre", "US aircraft carrier visits Viet Nam" or "Viet Nam enhances power balance in East Sea", etc.
He said the comments were groundless and misunderstood Viet Nam's defence policy.
The development of naval ties was within Viet Nam's policy, which was to develop external defence relations with all countries in general and naval relations with the countries mentioned above in particular, Vinh said.
Regarding defence dialogues, he said Viet Nam had accelerated and upgraded defence strategic dialogues with a number of countries, such as India, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Russia.
Viet Nam would hold defence dialogues at a deputy ministerial level with the US and China, he said.
The first deputy defence ministerial dialogue between Viet Nam and the US would take place in Ha Noi on August 17, he said, adding that it was part of an agreement reached between the two countries' defence ministers last year.
He said he hoped the media would be interested in the event and would cover it accurately. — VNS
