Vietnamese and Russian defense ministers hold talks in Moscow

Minister Phan said that via the visit, the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense targets to concretize the policy of deepening the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2012.

Viet Nam has sticked to its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship and development cooperation, multilateralization and diversification of relations, Phan reassured.

As a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community, Viet Nam treasured the good traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Russia, General Phan emphasized.

He clearly reiterated Viet Nam’s "four nos" defense policy (not partaking in military alliances, not siding with one country to act against another, not allowing foreign countries to set military bases or use Viet Nam’s territory to counter a third country; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations) for the goal of peace, self-defense and safeguarding the Fatherland early and from afar.

The Vietnamese people and People's Army always bear in mind the whole-hearted support that Russia has given to Viet Nam during its past struggle for national liberation and reunification and the current national construction and defense cause, he added.

The Vietnamese minister said the inaugural of the monument dedicated to Vietnamese international volunteer soldiers who fought in battles to protect Moscow in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) represents a symbol of the traditional ties between the two nations, of which defense cooperation is an important pillar.

In reply, Belousov pledged to consider cooperation proposals of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, especially training cooperation and cooperation between agencies and units.

Belousov also promised to accelerate the signing of cooperation agreements between the two sides and voiced his support for the expansion of cooperation to new fields in accordance with the capabilities and conditions of each nation.

Regarding global and regional situation and issues of mutual concern, the Vietnamese minister laid stress on Viet Nam's consistent stance of settling all disputes and divergences by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and the country's support for the early signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On this occasion, the pair agreed to work closely on delegation exchange at all levels, effectively maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms and scientific research cooperation within the framework of the Viet Nam - Russia Tropical Center, and continue coordination and consultation at multilateral mechanisms and forums./.