Australia, Vietnam hold third strategic defence dialogue Vietnam and Australia on November 20 conducted the third deputy foreign ministerial strategic defence dialogue in Canberra, Australia as a result of enhanced defence cooperation over the years. A Vietnam delegation was led Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh while an Australia delegation was headed by Deputy Secretary Gillian Bird and Defence Deputy Secretary Peter Baxter. Both sides noted with satisfaction the positive developments in relations and strong cooperation between the two countries in recent times, acknowledging the celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1973-2013) marked a new step of development in bilateral relations. They agreed to intensify high-level exchange visits and contacts, effectively carry out the 2015 - 2017 Action Plan (phase 2) aimingto tighten the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive partnership with priorities given to strengthening cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment, security - defense, education- training, development assistance, science - technology, and people-to-people exchange. The Australian side affirmed its recognition of great importance to promoting strategic partnership with Vietnam and welcomed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's official visit to Australia in the first half of 2015. The two sides hailed their combined efforts to enhance cooperation,dialogue and trust building for the sake of peace, stability and development in the Asia – Pacific region. They highlighted the central role of ASEAN in shaping a regional structure and backed ASEAN's efforts in maintaining solidarity and connectivity and building a united community. The defence officials underlined the necessity to increase cooperation in resolving non-traditional security problems such as disease prevention, climate change, human trafficking, natural disaster relief, network security, water resource security. They also exchanged views on the East Sea and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation and observing international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). All the involved parties need to settle disputes by peaceful means without the use or threat to use force, properly and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) toward achieving a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), they said. The two sides consented to hold the fourth dialogue at an appropriate time in Vietnam next year and closely work on the early signing of a cooperation agreement between the two foreign ministries on bomb and landmine remediation and development aid. VOV