Minister of National Defense General Ngo Xuan Lich talked over the phone with his Japanese counterpart Kishi Nobuo on November 16. 

Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich

Minister Lich congratulated Kishi over his appointment as Defense Minister and expressed his hope that the minister will work to deepen result-oriented defense cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan.

The two ministers informed each other on regional and international issues of mutual concern, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic control situation in their respective countries. They appreciated the timely sharing of knowledge and experience in fighting the pandemic by military medical experts of the two countries.

The ministers agreed to quickly implement contents in bilateral defense cooperation after the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled, with a focus on human resources and military medical training, peacekeeping, settlement of war consequences and other issues of mutual interest.

Minister Lich thanked the Government and Defense Ministry of Japan for their support and effective coordination with Viet Nam during 2020, the year of Viet Nam ASEAN Chairmanship, particularly in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus 3 framework. 

He invited Minister Kishi to attend the ADMM Plus 3 slated to be held online from December 9 to 11.

Minister Kishi accepted the invitation, and thanked Viet Nam for creating favorable conditions for ships of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force to dock at Cam Ranh international port for logistics and technical services./. VNA