General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, held talks with General Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, in Hanoi, December 10.

Defence cooperation between the two countries has remained active across delegation exchanges, particularly at the high level; training programmes; service- and branch-level collaboration; scientific research within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center; and coordination and consultations at multilateral defence mechanisms and international forums.

Minister Phan Van Giang said General Shoigu’s visit was of important significance in translating into practice the major directions of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for the new stage of cooperation agreed by the two countries’ leaders in May 2025. He expressed appreciation for Shoigu’s close and effective leadership during his tenure as Russian defence minister, noting its contribution to completing the monument honouring Vietnamese international volunteer soldiers who defended Moscow during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

He also informed the Russian guest that Vietnam had recently inaugurated the Vietnam-Soviet Union Solidarity and Friendship Monument at the Vietnam Military History Museum to pay tribute to Soviet military experts who supported Vietnam in its struggle for national liberation and reunification.

The two sides exchanged views on international and regional developments and other issues of mutual interest. General Phan Van Giang reaffirmed that ASEAN is playing an increasingly important role in shaping and maintaining the regional security architecture and in promoting substantive cooperation both within the bloc and between ASEAN and its partners, including Russia.

On the East Sea issue, he reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance of resolving disputes and differences by peaceful means, on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty and the legitimate interests of states, and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He called for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and for the early conclusion of negotiations and signing of an effective, substantive Code of Conduct (COC) consistent with international law, contributing to building the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and development.

Welcoming the continued progress of bilateral defence ties in the spirit of being “reliable, practical, effective and comprehensive,” the Vietnamese minister highlighted cooperation in delegation exchanges, training, service- and branch-level cooperation, scientific research under the Vietnam–Russia Tropical Center, and coordination at multilateral defence mechanisms, particularly ASEAN-led frameworks including the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Reaffirming Vietnam’s support for activities co-chaired by Russia and Laos under the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action for the 2024-2027 cycle, he proposed that the two defence ministries maintain close coordination to advance priority cooperation in training, experience exchange and scientific research under the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center, among other areas of shared interest.

On this occasion, he thanked the Russian Federation for sending a high-level delegation from the Federation Council to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution (August 19, 1945 – August 19, 2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), as well as for dispatching a Russian military contingent to take part in the commemorative parade.

For his part, General Sergei Shoigu underscored the longstanding and close traditional friendship between Vietnam and Russia and expressed appreciation to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence for sending a military contingent to participate in the parade on Red Square marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

He reaffirmed Russia’s priority of strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, particularly in defence cooperation, and voiced hope that both sides would continue close coordination to further boost cooperation in training, service- and branch-level exchanges, defence industry cooperation, experience sharing in areas of mutual interest and joint activities within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center.

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