General Phan Van Giang holds meetings in China

Sr. Lt. Gen. Zhang Shengmin welcomed General Phan Van Giang and the high-ranking delegation of the Viet Nam Ministry of National Defense (MND) to the forum, saying Viet Nam’s participation demonstrated its active and responsible role in regional and international issues and helped maintain high-level contacts between the two countries’ Central Military Commissions and defense ministries, contributing to strengthening defense ties, the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China.

General Phan Van Giang expressed his impression of the scale of the forum and confidence that, under the guidance of China’s Central Military Commission and Ministry of Defense, it would contribute to boosting dialogue and confidence-building among participating sides.

A view of the meeting between General Phan Van Giang and Sr. Lt. Gen. Zhang Shengmin

He also expressed sympathy over the severe damage caused by flash floods and landslides in the area of Jilong Border Gate in the Xizang Autonomous Region in late August, extending his profound condolences to the Party, State and people of China. He expressed confidence that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and with the solidarity and determination of the Chinese people, residents in the disaster-hit areas would soon overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives.

Reviewing bilateral defense cooperation, the Vietnamese Defense Minister highlighted the successful organization of the first “3+3” Strategic Dialogue at the ministerial level involving the foreign affairs, defense and public security ministers of Viet Nam and China, in line with the strategic guidance of the senior leaders of the two Parties and countries.

He said defense cooperation had achieved positive results through high-level delegation exchanges, the 10th Viet Nam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, education and training, cooperation between services and arms and maritime forces, border management, joint research, and academic exchanges.

General Phan Van Giang affirmed that the Central Military Commission and MND of Viet Nam would work with their Chinese counterparts to maintain and strengthen agreed areas of cooperation, effectively sustain existing mechanisms, and promote increasingly substantive cooperation.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Zhang Shengmin agreed with General Phan Van Giang’s views and expressed confidence that ongoing and future activities between the two militaries would help concretize the common understanding of the senior leaders of the two countries and further promote the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation also invited Sr. Lt. Gen. Zhang Shengmin to attend the 3rd Vietnam Defense Expo, scheduled to take place in Hanoi in December 2026.

At the meeting between General Phan Van Giang and General Khamliang Outhakaysone

On the sidelines of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, General Phan Van Giang also held bilateral meetings with General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Laos; General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Cambodia; Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Defense of Singapore; and Maj. Gen. Stephan Willer, Deputy Director of the Defense Policy Directorate of the German Ministry of Defense.

During his meeting with General Khamliang Outhakaysone, the two sides spoke highly of the implementation of the cooperation plan in 2026, particularly tasks assigned to the two defense ministries by their senior leaders.  The Vietnamese Defense Minister proposed focusing on the annual meeting of the defense ministers of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, a joint search and rescue exercise among the three militaries, and preparations for activities marking the 65th anniversary of Viet Nam-Laos diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2027.

At the meeting with General Tea Seiha, the two sides assessed that Viet Nam-Cambodia defense cooperation had achieved positive results in delegation exchanges, consultation and dialogue mechanisms, education and training, land and maritime border management and protection, the search for and repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains, and mutual support at multilateral forums and events.

A view of the meeting between General Phan Van Giang and General Tea Seiha

General Phan Van Giang proposed that the two sides focus on the annual meeting of the three defense ministers and a joint search and rescue exercise, organize the Viet Nam-Cambodia trade and business networking fair in Phnom Penh, prepare activities marking the 60th anniversary of Viet Nam-Cambodia diplomatic relations in 2027, and continue coordinating the search for, collection and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who died in Cambodia during various periods of war.

Meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, the Vietnamese official welcomed the increasingly substantive and effective Viet Nam-Singapore defense cooperation, particularly in delegation exchanges, defense policy dialogue and consultation, information exchange, cooperation between military services and arms, maritime security and safety, education and training, young officers’ exchanges, and mutual support at multilateral forums. The two sides agreed to implement existing agreements effectively, with an immediate focus on successfully organizing the 17th Viet Nam-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue in Singapore.

General Phan Van Giang and the Minister for Defense of Singapore Chan Chun Sing

General Phan Van Giang and Maj. Gen. Stephan Willer

At the meeting with Maj. Gen. Stephan Willer, General Phan Van Giang said Viet Nam-Germany defense cooperation had developed positively, highlighting the results of recent defense policy consultation between the two countries. He said the consultation would contribute to more effective bilateral defense cooperation, particularly in United Nations peacekeeping, education and training, and high-level delegation exchanges. He also affirmed that Viet Nam was ready to serve as a bridge for Germany to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN.

Maj. Gen. Stephan Willer spoke highly of General Phan Van Giang’s speech at the forum’s first plenary session and thanked him for inviting German companies to participate in the Viet Nam Defense Expo in December. He affirmed that he would study areas of future cooperation, particularly new areas, while emphasizing the importance of cooperation in education and training.

Translated by Tran Hoai