(VOVWorld)-Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith yesterday hosted a reception for visiting Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh. The Vietnamese leaders are in the Australian capital city of Canberra to co-chair the first Vietnam-Australia Defense and Diplomacy Strategic Dialogue. Mr. Smith said the dialogue will contribute significantly to promoting mutual trust and understanding between the two countries, lifting bilateral cooperation to a deep, practical and comprehensive level. He called for increasing cooperation in defense training, strategic research, exchange of experiences in humanitarian activities, disaster relief, bomb and mine clearance, and work more closely in activities to overcome the aftermaths of post-war bombs and mines. He emphasized the importance of ensuring peace, stability, maritime security and safety in the East Sea, settling disputes through peaceful measures, complying with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and promptly finalizing the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.