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General Nguyen Tan Cuong (left) welcomes General Uchikura Hiroaki. |
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The two generals review the guards-of-honor. |
The talks were held following a solemn welcome ceremony chaired by General Nguyen Tan Cuong.
During the talks, General Nguyen Tan Cuong noted that the visit came just one month after Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s successful trip to Vietnam, describing it as an important milestone that would create new momentum and open up further opportunities for bilateral cooperation. He expressed confidence that defense ties between Vietnam and Japan would continue to deepen and remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and General Uchikura Hiroaki |
The Vietnamese general highlighted the steady expansion of bilateral defense cooperation in recent years, particularly in high-level exchanges, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, training and education, cooperation among arms and services, United Nations peacekeeping operations, search and rescue, defense industry collaboration, maritime security, war legacy settlement, and mutual support at multilateral defense forums, especially within the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus framework.
He emphasized that search and rescue cooperation had entered a new stage following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two defense ministries in December 2025. Given that both countries are frequently affected by natural disasters, he described the cooperation as having significant humanitarian value and expressed hope that the agreement would soon be implemented through practical activities.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong exchanges views with General Uchikura Hiroaki during the talks. |
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General Uchikura Hiroaki at the talks |
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Delegation of Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense at the talks |
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The Japanese delegation at the event |
Looking ahead, General Nguyen Tan Cuong called for continued coordination in carrying out agreed areas of cooperation, including delegation exchanges, annual cooperation mechanisms, cyber-security exchanges, cyber defense training and workshops, U.N. peacekeeping operations, defense industry cooperation, and mutual support at international multilateral forums.
Discussing regional and international developments, General Nguyen Tan Cuong reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as diversification and multilateralization of international relations. He reiterated Vietnam’s “Four No’s” defense policy and stressed the importance of resolving disputes in the East Sea (aka South China Sea) through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He also expressed support for the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and General Uchikura Hiroaki exchange souvenirs at the event. |
The Vietnamese general took the occasion to thank the Japanese government for its support in addressing the war legacy in Vietnam, including the provision of dioxin and environmental analysis equipment and the ongoing implementation of a grant project supplying mine-clearance equipment.
He also expressed appreciation for the military scholarships provided annually by Japan’s Ministry of Defense to Vietnamese officers and hoped Japan would continue and expand such programs, particularly in science, engineering, and technology. He affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to receive personnel from Japan’s Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces for international defense courses and Vietnamese-language training programs.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong invited General Uchikura Hiroaki, leaders of Japan’s Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces, and Japanese defense industry companies to participate in the third Vietnam Defense Expo, scheduled for December 2026.
For his part, General Uchikura Hiroaki said he was honored to continue the recent series of high-level exchanges between the two countries. He expressed confidence that his visit would further strengthen Vietnam - Japan relations, including defense cooperation.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong introduces several images highlighting defense cooperation between Vietnam and Japan to General Uchikura Hiroaki. |
The Japanese military leader said both sides should continue implementing agreed cooperation activities, particularly in delegation exchanges, training, cooperation between arms and services, and U.N. peacekeeping operations. He noted that such efforts would contribute to advancing bilateral defense ties in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.
Prior to the talks, the Japanese delegation laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, laid flowers at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, and visited several agencies, military units, and historical sites in Hanoi and Bac Ninh province.
Translated by Tran Hoai