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General Nguyen Tan Cuong speaks at the talks. |
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and members of the high-ranking VPA delegation |
General Nguyen Tan Cuong, who is also a member of the Party Central Committee and a Standing member of the Central Military Commission, led a high-ranking VPA delegation on an official visit to Thailand. Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and members of both delegations attended the ceremony and talks.
At the talks, General Ukris Boontanondha welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, praising the progress of bilateral relations and defense achievements.
The Thai general highlighted that elevating bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2025, alongside reciprocal high-level visits, has built a vital foundation for deeper cooperation. Key milestones included the official visit to Thailand by Party General Secretary and President To Lam in May 2026 and the state visit to Viet Nam by the King and Queen of Thailand in September 2026.
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General Ukris Boontanondha speaks at the talks. |
Affirming Thailand’s commitment to defense ties with Viet Nam, General Ukris Boontanondha emphasized the value of leadership meetings in enhancing mutual trust.
He urged both sides to leverage existing mechanisms, fulfill agreements, and expand cooperation in line with mutual capabilities, advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership while contributing to regional peace and stability.
For his part, General Nguyen Tan Cuong thanked the host for the warm reception, noting that this was his first official visit to Thailand as Chief of the General Staff of the VPA.
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An overview of the talks between the two delegations |
Applauding bilateral defense progress, he suggested translating high-level agreements into action, turning defense cooperation into a key pillar of bilateral ties.
Looking forward, General Nguyen Tan Cuong proposed maintaining exchanges at all levels, optimizing consultation channels, and adhering to the principle of preventing any hostile force from using one country’s territory against the other.
He urged expanding cooperation between services and arms, sharing intelligence and expertise, conducting joint patrols and search-and-rescue drills, fostering aircrew exchanges and ship visits, and addressing maritime challenges.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and General Ukris Boontanondha exchange souvenir at the event. |
Highlighting military training, General Nguyen Tan Cuong recommended promoting academy exchanges and sharing pedagogical experience to bolster friendship.
Multilaterally, he proposed mutual support at regional and global forums, coordinating with ASEAN members to uphold unified stances on regional security, including the East Sea and Mekong River water security.
He also suggested expanding cooperation in border security, curbing illegal migration and transnational crime, and linking the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations with the Thai Peacekeeping Center.
Additionally, General Nguyen Tan Cuong called for cooperation between the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) and the Royal Thai Armed Forces in high-tech simulation, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.
Assessing regional and international affairs, General Nguyen Tan Cuong shared insights on emerging security threats, natural disasters, and climate risks.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong, General Ukris Boontanondha, and members of both delegations pose for a group photo. |
Emphasizing maritime and aviation security and sustainable Mekong water usage, he called on both militaries to coordinate strategic assessments on shared concerns.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in shared fields and mutual strengths, consolidating bilateral military ties and trust.
On this occasion, General Nguyen Tan Cuong invited General Ukris Boontanondha and his spouse to lead a senior military delegation to Viet Nam, which the Thai general cordially accepted.
Both leaders hailed the talks as a great success and agreed to instruct relevant agencies to execute all reached agreements.
Translated by Minh Anh