    |
 |
|
General Phan Van Giang and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov |
At the meeting, General Phan Van Giang said that bilateral defense cooperation has made significant progress in recent years based on agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders and signed cooperation documents. Key areas include exchanges of delegations, particularly at the high level; cooperation between arms and services; education and training; scientific and technological research under the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Center; coordination and mutual support at regional and international multilateral mechanisms and forums, particularly the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus.
The Vietnamese official welcomed the online inauguration of a laboratory for disease prevention and control, which he said reflected the attention and determination of the two countries’ senior leaders to make the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Center a model and symbol of bilateral cooperation.
|
|
 |
|
Delegates in a joint photo |
Looking ahead, the two sides agreed to further strengthen defense cooperation as a strategic pillar of the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Priorities include high-level exchanges and meetings, effective consultation and defense strategic dialogue mechanisms, training, and U.N. peacekeeping operations.
General Phan Van Giang asked the Russian Ministry of Defense to continue providing preferential and tuition-free scholarships for the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND), while expanding experience sharing, training and the provision of professional equipment for U.N. peacekeeping operations.
He also affirmed that the Vietnamese MND welcomes a delegation from the Russian Ministry of Defense to attend the third Viet Nam Defense Expo in December.
Minister Andrey Belousov expressed his pleasure at meeting General Phan Van Giang again, saying the state visit by General Secretary and President To Lam, his spouse and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, would further deepen strategic trust, traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia.
The Russian Defense Minister emphasized that Russia considers Viet Nam a traditional friend and an important regional partner and gives priority to developing bilateral cooperation. He said that defense cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral relations and affirmed that the Russian Ministry of Defense will continue expanding cooperation with its Vietnamese counterpart in new areas, in line with the capabilities and conditions of both sides.
Translated by Chung Anh