High-ranking defense delegations from Vietnam and the United Kingdom have met twice over the past two months to discuss strengthening military ties against a background of dangerous tensions in the South China Sea triggered by China's obstinate refusal to abide by international law.

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Minister of State at the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom Earl Howe has just finished talks with Vietnam's Deputy Defense Minister, Senior Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, who led a high-ranking Vietnamese defense delegation that visited the UK from Sept. 5 to 7 at Howe's invitation.

Gen. Vinh said the visit of the high-level Vietnamese delegation strengthened bilateral friendship between both nations; boosted military cooperation between their two armies and brought defense ties to a new level.

This was the second high level defense meeting between both nations in two months. In June, Vinh told British Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon Vietnam supports the UK taking an observer role in future conferences of defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Fallon promised Vietnamese troops will be allowed to train in the UK.

Following both meetings, Vietnam and the UK agreed to study the possibility of a defense cooperation agreement aimed at bolstering defense relations.

Vietnam and the UK recognized the positive outcomes of defense cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2011. They did, however, note their current bilateral defense cooperation doesn't reflect the potentials of both countries and their strategic partnership.

In his September visit, Gen. Vinh expressed delight at positive developments in bilateral relations since the two countries established the strategic partnership six years ago. He said Vietnam always wants to boost bilateral relations and all-sided cooperation, including defense ties with the UK.

He affirmed Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge connecting the UK to Asian countries, especially member states of ASEAN or the Association of Southeast Nations.

For his part, Howe said the UK always appreciates the role and position of Vietnam in Asia. He noted his country wanted to expand defense ties with Vietnam for the sake of peace, stability and development.

Gen. Vinh and Howe also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. They agreed the current situation in Asia require countries to jointly deal with regional challenges, particularly non-traditional security ones.

They agreed that disputes between countries must be settled by peaceful means and on the basis of international law, an indirect jab at China, which has repudiated the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidating China's nine-dash line and with it China's illegal claim to own most of the South China Sea.

Gen. Vinh also invited Howe to visit Vietnam.

TagsVietnam, United Kingdom, Senior Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, Earl Howe, Michael Fallon