    |
 |
|
Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang welcomes Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi. |
|
|
 |
|
Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Truong Thang and his UAE counterpart Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi |
During the talks held at the headquarters of Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense on June 30, Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang welcomed Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Defense, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese defense leader noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993, Vietnam and the UAE have steadily strengthened their relationship based on friendship, equality, mutual respect, and cooperation for the benefit of both nations. Bilateral cooperation has continued to expand in politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, labor, and other sectors.
|
|
 |
|
Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang at the event |
|
|
 |
|
Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi at the talks |
He said defense cooperation has also made positive progress in line with the Vietnam - UAE Comprehensive Partnership. Senior leaders of both countries have reached a common understanding on enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, including defense industry collaboration, while continuing to support major events hosted by each side.
The Vietnamese deputy defense minister took the occasion to thank the UAE Ministry of Defense and relevant authorities for supporting the representative office of the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) in the UAE. He expressed hope that the office would continue operating effectively and serve as a bridge for expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Expressing confidence that the agreements reached during the talks would open a new chapter in bilateral defense relations, General Thang said there remains significant potential for closer cooperation. He proposed expanding collaboration through high-level exchanges, establishing dialogue and consultation mechanisms, opening resident defense attaché offices in both countries, strengthening defense industry cooperation, participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations, enhancing cooperation in military medicine, logistics, non-traditional security, and high-quality personnel training, while continuing to support one another at multilateral forums and international events.
|
|
 |
|
The two sides signing an MoU on defense industry cooperation |
|
|
 |
|
Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang hands over a souvenir to Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi. |
He also affirmed that Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense is ready to welcome UAE officers to the International Defense Officials Course and military cadets to study the Vietnamese language at Vietnam's military academies. The Vietnamese deputy defense minister also invited leaders of the UAE Ministry of Defense, along with UAE defense companies and corporations, to attend the 3rd Vietnam Defense Expo in December 2026.
Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi described his visit as an opportunity to broaden bilateral defense cooperation. He praised the Vietnam - UAE Comprehensive Partnership and said the cooperation between the two countries has achieved significant progress in recent years.
Highlighting the considerable potential for further collaboration, particularly in defense, the UAE undersecretary expressed his hope that both sides would continue implementing the areas of cooperation already agreed upon while exploring new initiatives based on their respective needs and interests, contributing to the overall Comprehensive Partnership as well as to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and around the world.
|
|
 |
|
Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Truong Thang, his UAE counterpart Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, and members of the two delegations in a joint photo |
At the end of the talks, the two ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense industry cooperation.
Translated by Tran Hoai