The meeting aims to further advance strategic cooperation between the two countries in naval cooperation, marine research and shipbuilding.

In his speech at the meeting, General Phan Van Giang said Vietnam always valued Russia’s position as a major maritime power, stressing that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence hoped to deepen cooperation with the Russian Maritime Board in a more substantive, effective and comprehensive manner.

For the Russian side, General Nikolai Patrushev noted that maritime cooperation was becoming an increasingly important driver of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. He said the two sides still held considerable potential for cooperation in the field, particularly as both countries placed growing emphasis on developing the marine economy, ocean research and maritime security.

The two sides agreed that since the first consultation meeting held in Vietnam, bilateral marine  cooperation had made positive progress across multiple areas, including naval cooperation, shipbuilding, maritime transport, marine scientific research and personnel training.

One highlight was scientific research cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre, particularly in marine resource research, island and marine environment studies, and marine ecosystem conservation and restoration.

Human resource training, especially naval officer training, continued to be viewed as an effective and strategically important area of cooperation between the two countries.

On that basis, Vietnam and Russia consented  to continue strengthening coordination in carrying out signed agreements, with priority given to closer naval cooperation, expanded marine scientific research, maritime transport development and specialized training.

On the occasion,  both  sides signed and exchanged the 2026-2030 cooperation plan on marine affairs between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the Russian Maritime Board, thereby creating a new framework for bilateral cooperation in the coming years.

Also on May 22, General Phan Van Giang had a meeting with General Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

At the meeting, Giang spoke highly of the positive development of the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia across multiple areas, with defence cooperation and energy-oil and gas cooperation continuing to serve as key pillars.

The two sides also discussed measures to deepen defence cooperation, focusing on areas such as training, technology transfer, scientific research, humanitarian mine clearance and military history education.

General Sergei Shoigu affirmed that his nation always regards Vietnam as a priority partner in the Asia-Pacific region, while expressing hope that the two countries wil continue effectively implementing high-level agreements reached by their leaders in order to consolidate strategic trust and expand bilateral defence cooperation.

As part of the working visit, the high-level delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence also visited the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) and a shipbuilding enterprise in Moscow to learn more about Russia’s defence industrial and shipbuilding capabilities.

Vietnam, Russia agree to deepen defence cooperation

VOV.VN - Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov hosted an official welcome ceremony on May 21 for General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and his delegation during their official visit to Russia and co-chairmanship of the second consultation session on maritime issues.