Viet Nam, Russia hold 7th defense strategy dialogue

The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien and his Russian counterpart Alexander Fomin.

Hoang underscored the the crucial role of defense cooperation in the overall Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two sides have achieved positive outcomes in various areas, such as the exchange of delegations at all levels, maintenance of existing cooperation mechanisms, personnel training, collaboration between military forces, research cooperation within the framework of the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Center, and cooperation at multilateral forums, he noted.

Hoang suggested that both sides continue to promote bilateral defense ties in a more substantive and effective manner in the coming time, with a focus on key areas of enhancing all-level delegation exchanges, and upholding effectiveness of important cooperation mechanisms like the Inter-governmental Coordinating Committee on Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Center and the defense strategy dialogue.

He underlined the need to further strengthen cooperation between military forces and to push for stronger ties in military medical training, teaching Russian language, and realizing the contents of the dossier on 70 years of defense cooperation between Viet Nam-the Soviet Union/Russian Federation.

The Vietnamese official expressed his hope that the outcomes of the dialogue would serve as a driving force for both sides to advance their defense cooperation towards a more substantive, effective, and practical manner.

He also asserted Viet Nam's readiness to work with countries and international organizations for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Viet Nam remains steadfast with the policy of resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, added Hoang.

Regarding defense policy, Viet Nam consistently adheres to the "four nos" defense policy, he emphasized.

Fomin, for his part, congratulated Viet Nam on the 80th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam People's Army and the 35th Anniversary of All-People National Defense Day.

Both countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory of the Soviet people in 2025, told the Russian official, highlighting the close-kit friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the defense ministries.

The Russian Ministry of Defense will continue to actively coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to implement the agreed-upon tasks, thereby promoting the bilateral defense ties, stated Fomin.

Following the dialogue, they signed two documents which serve as a foundation for both defense ministries to realize cooperation contents in the time ahead./.