PANO – The 4th Vietnam-Japan Defense Policy Dialogue took place in Tokyo on November 29th under the co-chair of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister, and Japanese Deputy Minister of Defense Ro Manabe.

At the dialogue, the two sides expressed their delight as their bilateral defense cooperation is developing effectively in many fields within the framework of the two countries’ Intensive Strategic Partnership. General Vinh stated that, in the coming time, Vietnam hopes to promote defense cooperation with Japan in the direction of pragmatism, effectiveness, comprehensiveness, and sustainability, making defense cooperation one of the important pillars in Vietnam-Japan relationship.

The Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister proposed that the two sides increase high-ranking delegation exchanges; maintain and improve the quality of the Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism; promote exchanges among research institutes; organize exchanges and consultation among three military services of the two countries to enhance pragmatic cooperation and mutual trust.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (L), Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister, and Japanese Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada (R)

With the acknowledgement of the importance of maritime security, General Vinh and Mr. Ro Manabe held that the two sides should continue their cooperation in this field pragmatically. Vietnam is ready to receive Japanese Navy ships to Vietnamese ports and provide logistics and technical services at the Cam Ranh International Port. The two sides agreed to increase cooperation on search and rescue at sea.

At the event, the two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in other fields, including training and participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping activities and cyber security.

Regarding Vietnam overcoming the consequences of wars, General Vinh thanked Japan for its valuable assistance recently. He hoped that Japan would continue to assist projects, and that the two governments would soon sign a memorandum of understanding on demining, promoting cooperation between the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) and Japan Demining and Restoration Assistance Center (JDRAC).

The Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister stressed that Japan should assist Vietnam in implementing a dioxin detoxification project, to help Vietnam improve its capacity in treating contaminated soil and detoxification, and moving forward to the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on dioxin detoxification.

With the plan to develop defense industry cooperation for double purpose products, on the occasion of the dialogue, the Vietnamese and Japanese deputy defense ministers witnessed the signing of the Reference Record of Bilateral Defense Industry Cooperation. The two sides also agreed that Japan would assist Vietnam to produce double purpose high-tech products for defense and market development.

At the dialogue, the two sides reaffirmed their commitments to continue cooperating effectively at multilateral fora. Vietnam welcomes Japan to promote defense cooperation with ASEAN. The Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister reaffirmed Vietnam’s support to the “Vientiane Vision” initiative on defense cooperation between ASEAN and Japan.

The Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister and his counterpart also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concerns, focusing on settling disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respecting international laws. The two sides also attached importance to building the region of peace, stability, and rule of law. The same day, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh paid a courtesy call to Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada. At the meeting, the Japanese Defense Minister highly appreciated the results of the 4th Vietnam-Japan Defense Policy Dialogue and extended her invitation to her Vietnamese counterpart to visit Japan at convenient time. General Vinh thanked the host for her warm welcome and passed regards from Vietnamese Defense Minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich, to his counterpart and the Vietnamese Defense Minister’s invitation to the Japanese Defense Minister to visit Vietnam.

On the occasion of the 4th Vietnam-Japan Defense Policy Dialogue, General Vinh met with Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Japan Kanehara Nobukatsu and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nubuo Kishi. At the meetings, General Vinh informed the hosts of the results of pragmatic defense cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in recent time. He stressed that Vietnam and Japan have many similar interests and mutual concerns on security. The hosts held that the National Security Council of Japan and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs support Vietnam Ministry of National Defense and Japanese relevant agencies to strengthen cooperation effectively, especially in maritime security, participation in the UN Peacekeeping activities, overcoming the consequences of wars, and defense industry for the interests of each country and contributing effectively to peace and security in the region. The Japanese side also reiterated Tokyo’s stance to settle disputes by peaceful measures, on the basis of international laws, maintaining security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea (South China Sea).

During his time in Japan, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh also visited Japan’s Institute for International Policy Studies.

Reported by Bao Trung

Translated by Ngoc Hung