The talks took place in the framework of the two-day state visit to Belarus by Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, starting May 11.
The Belarusian defense chief emphasized that Belarus always considers Vietnam one of the priorities in its foreign policy in Asia-Pacific region. He hoped that the two countries’ relations would continue to be consolidated, cultivated and developed. In addition, the bilateral defense cooperation would be deepened in the spirit of the two countries’ traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation.
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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang and his Belarusian counterpart Lieutenant General Khrenin Viktor Gennadievich |
Gen. Giang was delighted at meeting his Belarusian counterpart again since the latter’s official visit to Vietnam in December last year. He stressed that the bilateral relationship has been constantly developed over the past more than 30 years since the two countries established their diplomatic ties with defense cooperation being among important pillars. He highly praised the host country’s achievements in socio-economic development, science and technology and defense.
During the talks, the two ministers spoke highly of the effective bilateral defense cooperation since their talks in Hanoi last December. Important outcomes included all-level delegation exchanges, training, military science, politics, military, mutual support and sending of delegations to participate in international multilateral activities organized by each side.
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Vietnamese delegates at the talks |
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Belarusian delegates at the talks |
Both defense chiefs agreed to establish a bilateral working group on defense cooperation, who will give suggestions and make proposals to the two defense ministries’ leaders to promote defense cooperation.
They expressed their delight and reached an agreement that Vietnam and Belarus’s lifting their ties to a strategic partnership during the Vietnamese Party chief’s visit this time serves as a foundation and motivation for the two countries to enter a new stage of cooperation across all fields, including defense cooperation.
Regarding the two sides’ cooperation in the time ahead, both ministers agreed to direct affiliates of the two defense ministries to work closely and effectively realize defense cooperation plan for 2025 and consider extending collaboration in training through short-term courses and sharing of experience in fields that they have strengths and needs.
In addition, exchanges should be enhanced to specify cooperation in military science. Moreover, the two sides will promote collaboration, experience sharing and exchanges in terms of politics and military, particularly political and ideological education for servicemen, military history, and military judiciary. They will further partner in military technology and engage in each defense ministry-hosted international multilateral events, among others.
Gen. Giang hoped that the Belarusian Ministry of Defense would continue supporting and sending delegations to future Vietnam Defense Expos.
Agreeing with his Vietnamese counterpart’s proposals and discussed issues, Minister Khrenin Viktor Gennadievich believed the talks would help develop the bilateral defense ties in a practical and effective manner, thus strengthening the two nations’ time-honored friendly and cooperative ties for their benefits and for peace, stability and development in each country and the region.
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Maj. Gen. Vu Thanh Van, Director of the Department of Foreign Relations under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (left) and Maj. Gen. Valeri Revenko, Head of the International Military Cooperation Department under the Belarusian Ministry of Defense sign the operation regulations of the bilateral working group on Vietnam-Belarus defense cooperation. |
After the talks, the two ministers witnessed the signing of the operation regulations of the bilateral working group on Vietnam-Belarus defense cooperation.
Earlier, in the presence of Party General Secretary To Lam and President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, the two defense ministers exchanged the letter of intent on promoting cooperation in training servicemen and experts between Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and Belarusian Ministry of Defense.
Also in Minsk, on May 11 afternoon, Gen. Giang met with Braga Vasili Ivanovich, Chairman of the Association of Belarusian War Veterans supporting Vietnam in the past. It was in the framework of Party chief To Lam’s meeting with the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, the Belarus-Vietnam Friendship Association, and former Belarusian experts who have given assistance to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese defense leader thanked former Belarusian experts for their contribution during Vietnam’s past struggle for national salvation and reunification and ongoing national building and development. Gen. Giang invited Braga Vasili Ivanovich and other former Belarusian experts to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.
The Belarusian official expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for their attention to and sentiment for former Belarusian experts. He affirmed that he would continue contributing to the two nations’ time-tested friendship and freshly-upgraded strategic partnership.
Reported by Thu Trang from Minsk, Belarus
Translated by Mai Huong