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General Phan Van Giang welcomes Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh. |
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The two ministers review the Guards-of-Honor of the Vietnam People’s Army. |
The talks took place right after a solemn welcome held for the Indian minister.
At the event, Gen. Giang emphasized the significance of the visit as the two countries commemorate the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. This ties were recently upgraded to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership in the spirit of “shared vision, strategic convergence, and substantive cooperation” during the state visit to India by Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam from May 5 to 7.
He expressed pleasure at witnessing India’s tremendous achievements, noting that India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy with remarkable scientific and technological advances, and an increasingly important global role.
The Vietnamese defense chief underlined practical outcomes in bilateral defense ties, particularly in high-level exchanges, consultation and dialogue mechanisms, training, service-to-service collaboration, United Nations peacekeeping, defense industry, military courts, and mutual support at multilateral forums.
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Gen. Giang and the Vietnamese delegation at the talks |
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Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh and the Indian delegation |
He thanked the Indian Ministry of Defense for its support in improving training quality at Vietnam’s military schools, its USD 1 million aid package for a foreign language classroom at the Air Force Officer Candidate School under the Air Defense - Air Force Service, and its preferential credit packages.
Regarding future cooperation, Gen. Giang suggested both sides maintain delegation exchanges and annual mechanisms to strengthen political trust and deepen defense cooperation.
Additionally, the two sides should enhance education and training. Alongside existing scholarships, Gen. Giang proposed India consider increasing quotas in specialized majors that the Vietnamese MND needs. He also suggested further cooperation between services and arms, in defense industry, U.N. peacekeeping, cybersecurity, military medicine, search and rescue, and continued mutual support at multilateral forums.
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General Phan Van Giang and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh cut the ribbon inaugurating theforeign language classroom. |
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The two defense ministers witness the exchange of the cooperation agreement between Vietnam Telecommunications University and India’s Military College of Telecommunication Engineering. |
Discussing regional and global situations, Minister Giang affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development. Vietnam remains steadfast in its “Four-Nos” defense policy and advocates resolving all disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means based on international law, including the UNCLOS 1982. Vietnam also hopes for the early signing of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Minister Rajnath Singh stated that Vietnam and India share enduring trust and friendship, which forms the foundation for expanding cooperation, with defense serving as a key pillar.
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General Phan Van Giang presents a statue of President Ho Chi Minh to Minister Rajnath Singh. |
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Minister Rajnath Singh presents a Buddha statue of India to his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang. |
Expressing honor to visit Vietnam on the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, the Indian defense chief affirmed this visit holds special significance during the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
He spoke highly of recent bilateral defense ties and hoped both sides would coordinate closely to implement agreed cooperation areas, focusing on delegation exchanges, training, capacity building, and service-to-service collaboration.
Minister Rajnath Singh affirmed his ministry is willing to prioritize scholarship opportunities for the Vietnamese MND. He hoped for closer cooperation between the defense ministries to develop substantive ties commensurate with the enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership.
At the end of the talks, General Phan Van Giang and Minister Rajnath Singh cut the ribbon inaugurating the foreign language classroom of the Air Force Officer Candidate School, and witnessed the exchange of a cooperation agreement between Vietnam Telecommunications University and India’s Military College of Telecommunication Engineering.
Translated by Mai Huong