Vietnamese and Russian defence ministers hold talks
VOV.VN - Minister of National Defence Gen Phan Van Giang and his Russian counterpart Andrey Removich Belousov on August 13 held talks in Moscow as part of the former’s visit to Russia to attend the International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2024”.
At the talks, Giang stated that the visit by the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence aims to concretise the policy of deepening the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership agreed upon by both nations’ senior leaders during the Russian President's State visit to Vietnam in June this year.
He affirmed that Vietnam has always been consistent in its foreign policy of "independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship and development cooperation, multilateralisation and diversification of relations; being a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community"; valuing neighbourly relations and traditional friendship with other countries, particularly the good traditional friendship between Vietnam and Russia.
The defence chief clearly affirmed Vietnam’s "four Nos" defence 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 Vietnam’s territory to counter a third country; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations) for the goal of peace, self defence and safeguarding the Father early and from afar.
Giang reiterated that the Vietnamese people and People's Army always bear in mind the whole hearted support that Russia has given to Vietnam during its past struggle for national liberation and reunification and the current national construction and defence cause. He said the inaugural of the monument to Vietnamese international volunteer soldiers who fought in battles to protect Moscow in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) is a symbol of the traditional ties between the two nations, of which defence cooperation is an important pillar.
In response, Minister Belousov assured his nation’s readiness to consider cooperation proposals of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, especially training cooperation and cooperation between agencies and units.
He consented to speed up the signing of cooperation documents between the two sides in the coming time. In addition, he backed the expansion of cooperation to new fields in accordance with the capabilities and conditions of each nation.
Discussing the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern with the host, the Vietnamese minister laid stress on Vietnam's consistent stance of settling all disputes and disagreements 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) that is substantive, effective and legally binding.
Both sides will continue to coordinate to bolster defence cooperation, focusing on exchanging delegations at all levels; effectively maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms; human resources training; cooperation between military branches; scientific research cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Centre; and effective coordination and consultation at multilateral mechanisms and forums.
