During the event, which was chaired by Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, delegates assessed that in 2025, under the leadership and direction of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the MND, the international integration and defense diplomacy work has been conducted effectively in line with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies on foreign affairs.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien speaks at the conference. |
In particular, the MND has drafted and submitted to the National Assembly for adoption the Law on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations; and prepared and submitted to the Government Decree No.234/2025/ND-CP dated August 27, 2025, regulating foreign military vessels visiting Vietnam and Vietnamese military vessels operating abroad. Agencies and units across the military have closely coordinated in research and assessment, and pro-actively proposed timely recommendations to the CMC and the MND to advise the Party and the State on handling issues related to Vietnam’s conduct in international relations, such as deploying forces to assist in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar, and building a symbolic area acknowledging the valuable assistance provided by foreign countries during the resistance wars at the Vietnam Military History Museum.
Bilateral defense cooperation, especially with neighboring countries and key partners, has continued to be consolidated and expanded, helping establish and maintain a peaceful environment for national development while mobilizing external resources to strengthen national defense capabilities.
Border defense diplomacy has been a bright spot, achieving high effectiveness and making practical contributions to strengthening close, united, friendly and trust-based defense relations with neighboring countries. Notable highlights include the successful organization of the 9th Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange and the 2nd Vietnam - Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange. Maritime and aerial security cooperation was actively and effectively implemented by the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Defense - Air Force. Cooperation in addressing war legacy has recorded many important results, such as the successful organization of a conference to mobilize resources for post-war unexploded ordnance clearance in Vietnam; the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the MND and the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State to enhance cooperation in addressing war consequences; and pro-active negotiations with partners to implement key projects in 2025 related to post-war bomb and mine clearance.
Multilateral defense diplomacy has continued to be carried out effectively, contributing to enhancing Vietnam’s image, position and role in the international arena, while conveying Vietnam’s strong messages, commitments, and its responsible, constructive efforts and contributions to peace, cooperation and sustainable development. Information and communication activities have closely followed the leadership and direction of the CMC, the MND and the General Department of Political Affairs, ensuring adherence to principles, viewpoints and guidelines, maintaining correct orientation and creating broad impact.
Speaking at the event, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien highly commended the efforts and contributions of agencies and units to the overall achievements of international integration and defense diplomacy in recent times. Building on the results achieved, he emphasized that in 2026 it is necessary to adopt new thinking for a new term in a new era regarding international integration and defense diplomacy, with greater attention paid to developing defense diplomacy capacity, particularly focusing on building specialized agencies and cadres in professional, elite, and modern direction.
He also requested a strong focus on preparations for major defense diplomacy events, such as the 3rd Vietnam Defense Expo, the border defense friendship exchanges, and the annual meeting of the Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Translated by Tran Hoai