Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister Phan Van Giang visits Japan
VGP – General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense of Viet Nam, arrived in Tokyo on July 12, beginning a four-day official visit to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro.
General Phan Van Giang (L) visits the Embassy of Viet Nam, Tokyo, July 13, 2026 - Photo: VOV
The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and contribute to deepening the Viet Nam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Shortly after arriving in Tokyo, General Phan visited the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan, where he met with embassy officials and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan.
During his stay, General Phan is scheduled to visit the Japan Joint Staff College, pay a courtesy call on Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru, and hold official talks with Japanese Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro, along with other activities at Japan's Ministry of Defense.
Ahead of the visit, Minister Koizumi highlighted the significance of General Phan's visit, noting that it is the first official visit to Japan by a Vietnamese defense minister in five years. He said he personally welcomed General Phan at the airport as a reflection of Japan's high regard for both the Vietnamese minister and Viet Nam.
Koizumi recalled his previous meeting with General Phan on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in late May 2026, when he also paid a courtesy call on General Secretary To Lam, expressing his pleasure at meeting the Vietnamese defense minister again in Tokyo.
Japan considers Viet Nam an important partner in advancing its Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision./.
