(VOV) - Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith’s visit will significantly contribute to deepening the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive partnership and cooperation between their Defence Ministries.

Minister of National Defence Phung Quang Thanh emphasised the warm welcome at a meeting with mass media, following talks with his Australian counterpart.

Briefing media on the results of their talks, both ministers said they had reviewed the cooperation recently and discussed further measures to cement ties by working towards the implementation of their Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, signed in 2010.

They also exchanged views on international and regional issues, indicating that the two nations will work together to promote peace, friendship and cooperation.

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the development of bilateral defence cooperation, especially in training. They agreed to continue consulting each other in multilateral forums and promote bilateral dialogue at both strategic and implementation levels.

In the future, the two ministries will continue to expand the English training programme for Vietnamese military personnel and discuss issues relating to security in the Asia Pacific region on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Smith said the Australian Defence Ministry will also assist in the clearance of war-era bombs and mines in Vietnam.