During the phone talks, Gen. Giang congratulated Hegseth on his appointment as the 29th Secretary of Defense of the United States. He affirmed that Vietnam follows an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, alongside diversifying and multilateralizing international relations, while actively integrating into the world, and being a friend, reliable partner, and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam always considers the United States as one of its leading strategic partners, he emphasized.

Gen. Giang expressed his pleasure at the effective implementation of bilateral defense cooperation documents in recent years in various areas, aligning with the overall relationship between the two countries and reflecting the positive outcomes of his official visit to the United States in September 2024.

He highlighted that cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war has been a bright spot in defense relations between the two countries. The US commitment to mobilizing resources for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airbase, supporting persons with disabilities, clearing unexploded ordnance, and searching for and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese soldiers, as well as collaborating on the search for U.S. military personnel missing in action, holds significant meaning, contributing to breaking with the past and moving toward the future.

The minister expressed his desire for both defense ministries to continue maintaining delegation exchanges, high-level contacts, and existing consultation and dialogue mechanisms. He expected that the 13th Defense Policy Dialogue would be organized in Vietnam soon.

As the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations (1995–2025). Gen. Giang hoped the two defense ministries would carry out meaningful activities to mark this important milestone.

On this occasion, he extended a formal invitation to Hegseth to pay an official visit to Vietnam in 2025.

Hegseth for his part reaffirmed that the Trump administration highly values its partnership with Vietnam. He expressed his desire to further promote US-Vietnam cooperation in the coming time, especially in defense, with a focus on war legacy remediation efforts, as agreed upon by both sides.
 

Independence Day of United States celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City leaders makes some proposals to boost cooperation with the United States at a ceremony marking the 248th Independence Day of the United States in the city on June 28 evening.