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A welcome ceremony for Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang |
The meeting was within the official visit to Singapore by Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam.
Gen. Giang expressed his delight at meeting his Singaporean counterpart again in beautiful, dynamic and developed Singapore since his impressive visit in February 2022.
Emphasizing the constant development of the two countries’ relations across all aspects, Minister Giang said that the lifting them to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the Vietnamese Party chief’s visit this time is a historic milestone, opening up a new chapter in the two nations’ bilateral relationship. He believed that the bilateral defense and security cooperation will enjoy new, strong, practical and effective development steps and continue to be one of the important pillars in the Vietnam-Singapore comprehensive strategic partnership.
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The two defense ministers review the Guards-of-Honor. |
He underlined Vietnam highly values Singapore’s position, role, and positive contribution to regional and international issues, particularly within ASEAN, thus promoting the solidarity within the association, raising ASEAN’s position in the region and the world.
He wished Singapore to continue bringing into play its role, join with Vietnam and other ASEAN member states to foster the realization of the ASEAN Community’s goals. He confirmed Vietnam’s support to Singapore to co-chair the ADMM+’s Experts’ Working Group on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief with New Zealand in the 2024-2027 period. He suggested the two sides continue to closely coordinate in big issues within ADMM and ADMM+, such as external relations between ADMM and its partner countries.
The Vietnamese defense chief expressed his pleasure at the trusted and practical bilateral defense cooperation, especially in all-level delegation exchanges, effectively maintenance of dialogue, consultation, information exchange mechanisms, cooperation between services and corps, in maritime security and safety, training, exchange of young officers, and mutual support and consultation at multilateral forums and mechanisms.
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Members of the Vietnamese delegation introduced to the Minister of Defense of Singapore |
On this occasion, Gen. Giang thanked the Singaporean Ministry of Defense for granting scholarships to Vietnamese servicemen and welcoming Vietnamese naval, coast guard and border guard officers to work at the Information Fusion Center in Singapore.
Welcoming General Giang in Singapore, Minister Ng Eng Hen agreed that the bilateral defense cooperation has importantly contributed to enhancing political trust and deepening the relations between the two countries. He affirmed that he would continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to effectively carry out agreed cooperation contents.
Also at the meeting the two sides voiced their hope for strengthened exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level ones, effective maintenance of current consultation and dialogue mechanisms, consideration for establishing an air force consultation mechanism.
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Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang (left) and his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen |
Both sides agreed to accelerate cooperation in training through signing of agreements on training cooperation, collaboration between services and corps, search and rescue operations, maritime security, partnership in military medicines, cyber security, including the admission of Vietnamese officers from the Cyberspace Operations Command to the ADMM Cybersecurity and Information Center of Excellence under the Singaporean Ministry of Defense. They promised to continue to consult with and support each other at multilateral defense and security forums within ASEAN.
Also at the meeting, Minister Giang expressed thanks to the Singaporean Ministry of Defense for supporting and attending the 80th foundation anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, the 35th anniversary of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day, and the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024. He took the occasion to invite Minister Ng Eng Hen to pay an official visit to Vietnam this year.
Reported by Thu Trang from Singapore
Translated by Mai Huong