The event saw the participation of Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the People's Army of Viet Nam Trinh Van Quyet, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and defense ministers from Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, Belarus, Thailand, Brunei and Mongolia.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Pham highlighted the significance of the event, which takes place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the All People's National Defense Festival.
The expo, with the message "Peace–Cooperation–Shared Development," helps promote defense diplomacy and cooperation for peace, for stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Opening ceremony of the Viet Nam International Defense Expo 2024
Viet Nam consistently follows the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification and acts as a trusted friend and partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community, the Government chief reiterated.
The nation actively promotes foreign relations and defense cooperation to strengthen friendship, mutual understanding, demonstrate sincerity, and build trust, while jointly addressing common security and safety challenges, preventing conflicts and wars in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law, emphasized Pham.
Viet Nam adheres to the "four nos" defense policy: no partaking in military alliances, no siding with one country to act against another, no foreign military bases in the Vietnamese territory or using Viet Nam as leverage to counteract other countries, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations, affirmed Pham.
He said Viet Nam is determined to strengthen defense capabilities to help the country to safeguard itself early and from afar.
Viet Nam's strategic orientation is to develop a proactive, self-reliant, dual-use, modern and international integrated defense industry, said Pham, adding that the country prioritizes research, development and application of advanced science and technology in the dense industry in order to optimize the dual usabilities of the industry's products for enhancing defense capabilities and promoting economic development, serving the country's strategic interests and people's life.
The expo is a testament for Viet Nam's role and contributions to international defense cooperation; a symbol of trust, respect and goodwill for cooperation between countries for a world of peace, stability and prosperity, a vivid evidence of international friends' support and valuable affection for the people and the army of Viet Nam.
The event, held from December 19-22, attracts the participation of 66 international delegations and over 240 defense industry enterprises from 49 countries./.