Vietnam and China sign defense cooperation document

The signing took place after talks in Hanoi on October 24 between General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Head of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, and Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia, Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China.

During their talks, Giang affirmed that Vietnam always considers the development of friendly and cooperative relations with China as an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy.

In his view, defense cooperation is always identified as one of the important pillars of Vietnam – China relations that has been continuously strengthened and become increasingly substantive, contributing positively to the realization of common perceptions of the senior leaders of the two countries.

Giang noted that said the two sides have maintained the exchange of delegations and contacts, and successfully organized the 8th border defense friendship exchange, helping to further enhance mutual understanding and trust.

Cooperation in land border areas has been strengthened and promoted, which is truly a bright spot, contributing to building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

The two sides have also increased cooperation between their navies and coast guards, as well as in areas such as education and training and strategic research between military schools and academies, United Nations peacekeeping, and military medicine. They have coordinated closely and supported each other at regional and international multilateral defense cooperation forums and mechanisms.

He proposed that both sides reinforce the existing cooperation mechanisms, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation in the defense industry and military trade; further expanding cooperation in areas such as human resource training, scholar exchanges, logistics, and military medicine, especially in traditional medicine, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and responses to non-traditional security challenges; and promoting exchanges and sharing experiences in the field of digital transformation in the military.

Regarding maritime issues, Giang emphasized that Vietnam’s consistent viewpoint is to resolve all disputes and disagreements through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam fully implements the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and hopes for early consultations to reach a consensus and sign a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the regional waters that aligns with international law and benefits all parties involved, he said.

The Defense Minister also expressed his desire to welcome the leadership of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense to participate in activities in celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defense Expo in December 2024.

Zhang for his part acknowledged Giang’s proposals and affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and China is a special relationship, and based on the implementation of the common perceptions of the two countries’ top leaders, bilateral defense cooperation is increasingly developing steadily.

He expressed his honour to visit Vietnam for the first time and at the same time praised Vietnam for the dsound achievements it has made in building socialism.