Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Matteo Perego di Cremnago, Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense exchange the Minutes of the 4th Defense Policy Dialogue. Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA

During the dialogue, the two officials agreed on orientations aimed at strengthening co-operation in the various fields of their need and strengths, with a major focus on delegation exchange taking place at all levels, training and capacity building for staff - officers, defense industry co-operation, and technology transfer of production of dual-use products.

They stressed the need to promote the exchange of experience in deploying UN peacekeeping forces, dealing with the consequences of previous wars in Vietnam, and boosting cyber-security cooperation.

The Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense reiterated readiness to support the Vietnam People's Army in improving their capacity, while stepping up practical and effective bilateral defense ties through the Defense Policy Dialogue at a deputy defense ministerial level.

Both emphasized maintaining peace, stability, and security, including maritime security and advocating dispute settlement by peaceful means in compliance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Earlier, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien paid a courtesy visit to Defense Minister of Italy Guido Crosetto and met with Admiral Luciano Portolano, general secretary of Defense and director of the National Equipment Agency. Mr. Chien also received representatives of some Italian agencies and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy.