Meeting with Cuban Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, General Giang congratulated the diplomat on his new assignment in Vietnam and expressed confidence that he would have a successful term, contributing to strengthening the special traditional friendship between the two Parties, Governments, States, peoples, and militaries.
    |
 |
|
General Phan Van Giang (right) receives Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco. |
Minister Giang noted that defense cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba has been continuously strengthened and developed, becoming a highlight in the overall relationship between the two countries. Both sides have effectively implemented areas of cooperation based on the defense cooperation plan for the 2023–2025 period, as well as other contents agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries and militaries. They have seen significant progress in areas such as delegation exchanges, training, defense industry, Party and political work, and military medicine. These achievements have contributed to enhancing their militaries’ capacity to protect the Fatherland and to promoting peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
General Giang expressed his hope that Ambassador Polanco Fuentes would continue to support and facilitate the strengthening of overall bilateral relations, especially in defense cooperation, particularly as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 – 2025) and the “Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Year” in 2025.
The Cuban diplomat expressed his honor at being appointed Cuba’s Ambassador to Vietnam. He praised Vietnam’s proud national history and noted the positive outcomes of the Vietnam–Cuba defense cooperation. He affirmed his commitment to preserving and enhancing cooperation between the two nations and militaries in an effective and in-depth manner.
At the meeting with Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird, General Giang affirmed that Vietnam highly values its cooperative relationship with Australia. He stated that the official upgrade of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024 marked an important milestone, creating favorable conditions for further cooperation across various sectors, including defense.
|
|
 |
|
Defense Minister Phan Van Giang (right) and Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird |
The Vietnamese Defense Minister highly appreciated the results of Vietnam–Australia defense cooperation. Based on the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation in 2010 and the Joint Vision Statement on Promoting Defense Cooperation in 2018, both sides have effectively implemented key areas, including delegation exchanges, consultation and dialogue, training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, military medicine, cooperation among arms and services, and war legacy settlement.
He affirmed that in the coming time, the two defense ministries will continue to closely coordinate in high-level delegation exchanges; effective maintenance of regular consultation-dialogue mechanisms; cooperation in training; U.N. peacekeeping operations; experience-sharing between military services; consultation and mutual support at multilateral defense cooperation mechanisms; and acceleration of building and signing new cooperation agreements. He stated that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is ready to welcome Australian officers to study Vietnamese at the Military Science Academy and to participate in the Senior Defense Officials’ Course at the National Defense Academy.
Underscoring the importance of bilateral defense cooperation in the overall Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird expressed her hope that, going forward, the two defense ministries would continue to advance their agreed-upon cooperation agenda, especially in the field of U.N. peacekeeping.
|
|
 |
|
The Vietnamese defense leader hands over souvenir to British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew. |
While meeting with British Ambassador Iain Frew, General Giang affirmed that the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam always value and appreciate the cooperative relationship with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He noted that recent defense cooperation between the two countries has been implemented in alignment with the broader bilateral relationship and in accordance with the commitments outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Defense Cooperation in 2017. This cooperation focuses on delegation exchanges, dialogue and consultation, training, defense industry, U.N. peacekeeping, and hydrographic and geospatial cooperation.
General Giang suggested that, moving forward, the two defense ministries continue to promote their cooperation in key areas such as high-level delegation exchanges, defense industry, training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, and continued mutual consultation and support at international and regional security mechanisms and forums, thereby contributing to the advancement of the ASEAN–U.K. Dialogue Partnership.
He expressed confidence that, in his important role, Ambassador Iain Frew would continue to make significant contributions to the bilateral relationship in general, and to defense cooperation in particular.
During the meeting, Ambassador Iain Frew spoke highly of the positive outcomes in recent U.K.–Vietnam bilateral defense cooperation. He expressed hope that both sides would continue working closely to further elevate the overall Vietnam–U.K. partnership and defense cooperation to new heights.
Translated by Tran Hoai