The dialogue was co-chaired by Vietnam’s delegation led by Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of Defence, and Singapore’s delegation led by Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary for Defence.

Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highlighted that 2025 marks a historic milestone in bilateral relations, as Vietnam and Singapore upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse to Singapore in March 2025. This demonstrates the political will of both countries to continuously strengthen and elevate their bilateral relationship.

During the dialogue, both sides exchanged views on global and regional developments and issues of mutual concern. Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized ASEAN’s crucial role in shaping and maintaining regional security structures and promoting substantive cooperation among member states as well as between ASEAN and its partners.

Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea), he reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on peacefully resolving disputes based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), supporting regional and international commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promoting the early conclusion of an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting) and ADMM+ (Expanded ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting) cooperation, Chien stressed Vietnam’s appreciation for Singapore’s practical and effective contributions to these initiatives and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to actively participate in joint efforts for regional peace and stability.

Acknowledging the positive outcomes of bilateral defence cooperation, Chien suggested that both sides continue to strengthen trust, pursue comprehensive and substantive cooperation, and focus on practical initiatives.

Key areas include increasing high-level and broader exchanges; optimizing existing cooperation mechanisms; maintaining effective training programs; expanding cooperation and interactions between naval, air, and coast guard forces; exploring potential cooperation in areas of mutual strength and need such as cybersecurity and search-and-rescue; and actively consulting and supporting each other within the ASEAN defence framework.

Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed thanks to Singapore for hosting Vietnamese naval, border guard, and coast guard officers at Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC). Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence invited Singapore to continue sending officers to Vietnamese language and international defence training courses at the National Defence Academy and welcomed study visits by institutions from both countries.

During the dialogue, Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence also invited Singaporean defence officials and Chan Heng Kee to participate in the 3rd Vietnam International Defence Expo, scheduled for 2026.

In response, Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary for Defence, said he was honored to co-chair the 16th Defence Policy Dialogue with Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien. He extended condolences to victims and families affected by recent natural disasters in Vietnam and affirmed Singapore’s readiness to assist in recovery efforts.

He highlighted the strong, growing bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Singapore, with defence cooperation as a key pillar, and expressed hope that, based on the outcomes of the 16th dialogue, both sides would continue stepping up in agreed areas, particularly naval, training, and cybersecurity cooperation, thus further reinforcing Vietnam-Singapore defence relations.

The dialogue concluded with the signing of a three-year Defence Cooperation Plan for 2025-2028, a Memorandum of Understanding on enhanced training cooperation between the two ministries, and the witnessing of cooperation documents between the two naval forces.

Vietnam, Singapore young officers enhance exchanges, cooperation

Vietnamese and Singaporean young military officers gathered in Hanoi on October 8 to exchange knowledge, share professional experiences, and discuss military training and operations.