Vietnam, Russia pledge to beef up defense ties at 7th strategic dialogue

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien and his Russian counterpart Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin have agreed to step up the defense cooperation between the two nations while co-chairing the seventh Vietnam-Russia Defense Strategy Dialogue in Hanoi on Thursday.

At the event, Deputy Minister Chien underlined the crucial role of boosting defense cooperation in the overall traditional friendship as well as in the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. 

Highly appreciating the results of cooperation between the two defense ministries since the sixth dialogue in July 2023, Chien suggested that the two sides continue to enhance bilateral defense cooperation in various areas, including exchanging delegations at all levels, strengthening important cooperation mechanisms such as the Intergovernmental Coordination Committee on the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center, and maintaining strategy dialogues.

He also urged stronger cooperation in training in military medicine and Russian language, as well as collaboration between the two sides’ military units. 

In addition, Chien asked the Russian side to assist the Vietnamese defense ministry in compiling a dossier on 70 years of defense cooperation between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union and Russia today.

He expressed his belief that the results of the seventh dialogue will give new momentum for the two ministries to expand and deepen the defense cooperation.

Treasuring the fruitful outcomes in cooperation between the two ministries, Deputy Minister Fomin emphasized that defense cooperation is an important pillar of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic relations. 

Noting that 2025 will mark the 75th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations and the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory of the Soviet people, to which Vietnam had made contributions, Fomin emphasized the need to promote close-knit friendship and mutually beneficial ties between the two ministries.

The Russian defense ministry will continue to actively coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to step up the bilateral defense links in an effective and substantive manner, Fomin told the dialogue.

The two officials also shared their views on the world and regional situations of mutual concern. 

Chien affirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations.

Vietnam is ready to cooperate with countries and international organizations for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, Chien said. 

He also highlighted Vietnam’s stance on resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

Regarding defense policy, Chien reiterated Vietnam’s defense policy of ‘four nos,’ including no engagement in military alliances, no alignment with any single nation against another, no foreign military bases on Vietnamese soil or usage of Vietnam as a pawn to counteract other countries, and no use or threat of force in international relations.

The dialogue came to an end with the two sides signing two documents which serve as a foundation for cooperation between the two ministries in the coming time.

By Vinh Tho & Nam Tran – Tuoi Tre News – December 28, 202