Welcoming Nikolai Patrushev and the Russian delegation to Vietnam, the Vietnamese Defense Minister emphasized that the visit carried important significance in concretizing the major orientations of the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for a new stage of cooperation, as agreed upon by General Secretary To Lam and President Vladimir Putin in May 2025.
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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang at the talks |
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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang (third from left) and the Vietnamese delegation |
He stressed that the Vietnamese people always remember and are deeply grateful for the effective and wholehearted support of the former Soviet Union and today’s Russian Federation in the struggle for national independence, reunification, and Fatherland construction and defense cause. Recently, the MND inaugurated a monument complex at the Vietnam Military History Museum to honor Soviet experts who supported Vietnam during wartime. Together with the Vietnam - Soviet/Russian Military Memorial in Cam Ranh and the Memorial to Vietnamese volunteers in Moscow, this complex will further strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries.
On this occasion, General Giang thanked Russia for sending high-level delegations and military units to participate in the 80th anniversary celebrations of the August Revolution and National Day of Vietnam. He also highly appreciated Russia’s status as a major maritime power with strong naval forces, strategic seaports, advanced shipbuilding technology, and modern maritime management, expressing confidence that Russia would continue contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity worldwide.
During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on global and regional issues. The Vietnamese defense leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s policy of becoming a strong maritime nation that is prosperous from the sea, sustainable, secure, and safe; linking sustainable maritime economic development and protection of defense and security, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; strengthening international cooperation to maintain a peaceful environment for growth.
Regarding the East Sea (aka South China Sea) issues, Vietnam’s consistent stance is to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982; to comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and to accelerate negotiations for a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC).
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Aide to the President and Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev (right) at the talks |
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Aide to the President and Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev and the Russian delegation |
He stressed that both countries’ leaders have always valued strengthening the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership, with defense cooperation as a key pillar. He expressed satisfaction with the progress in defense cooperation, particularly in naval affairs, training, joint maritime scientific research under the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center, and border management. He proposed further consultations and cooperation in maritime areas of mutual interest.
For his part, the Russian official expressed gratitude for the warm reception by the Vietnamese MND. He emphasized that maritime cooperation contributes to strengthening bilateral defense relations in line with the orientations of the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership agreed in May, 2025. He affirmed that maritime cooperation between the two countries still holds great potential and expressed hope for continued exchanges, focusing on naval collaboration, education, training, and maritime scientific research, while also exploring other promising areas.
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General Giang and Nikolai Patrushev signing the Memorandum of Understanding on maritime consultations |
At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on maritime consultations between the Vietnamese MND and the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation.
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