Defense minister holds talks with Secretary of Russian Security Council

Phan said, the Vietnamese people always bear in mind and are deeply grateful for the tremendous, meaningful, and heartfelt assistance of the former Soviet Union and today's Russian Federation in the struggle for national independence, reunification, and building and safeguarding the nation.

The Viet Nam–Soviet Union solidarity and friendship monument cluster at the Viet Nam Military History Museum has been built to honor the Soviet military experts, Phan said.

He hailed Russia's status as a maritime power, with its strong naval capabilities, extensive network of strategic seaports, advanced shipbuilding technology, and modern models of maritime management and exploitation.

Phan expressed his confidence that Russia will continue to make positive contributions to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region and the world.

Viet Nam is determined to enhancing sustainable, secure, and safe maritime development, he reiterated, ensuring that sustainable marine economic growth goes hand in hand with safeguarding national defense and security, told the minister.

The country firmly upholds independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and strengthens foreign relations and international cooperation on maritime issues, thereby contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development, underlined the official.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Viet Nam's consistent stance is to resolve disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Viet Nam vows to adhere to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and actively promote the early conclusion and signing of a substantive, effective, and efficient Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, stressed the Vietnamese minister.

Phan called on both sides to promote consultations and collaboration in maritime areas of mutual interest.

He expressed his hope that the relationship between the two agencies will be strengthened on the basis of mutual benefit, in accordance with international law and the laws of each country.

Patrushev, for his part, emphasized that maritime cooperation contributes to fostering defense ties between the two countries, in line with the major orientations of the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, as agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders in May 2025.

There remains significant potential for bilateral maritime cooperation, said Patrushev, urging the two sides to continue discussions to advance collaboration in this area, with a focus on naval cooperation, education, training, and marine scientific research.

Following the talks, both sides sign a Memorandum of Understanding on consultations in maritime issues./.