Army’s general staff chief meets Russian, Philippine officers in Moscow

Moscow (VNA) – Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang had meetings with senior military officers of Russia and the Philippines on the sidelines of the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS-8) on April 24.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Defence Minister of Russia Gen. Valery Gerasimov appreciated the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence sending a high-ranking delegation to the MCIS-8.

He noted alongside the sound development of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, bilateral defence cooperation has continually been reinforced in multiple fields.

2019 marks several important events in the two countries’ relations, including 25 years since the signing of the treaty on basic principle for the Russia-Vietnam friendship, the Russia Year in Vietnam, and the Vietnam Year in Russia. The year is also on threshold of the 70th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2020.

Therefore, the Defence Ministry and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia will step up activities to further intensify relations between the two countries and the two militaries, Gerasimov said.

For his part, Giang spoke highly Russia’s hosting of the MCIS-8, noting that through this event, the stature of Russia, including its Defence Ministry, will be improved with regard to the settlement of international and regional issues.

He also proposed cooperation activities between the two militaries be implemented as agreed by the Vietnamese and Russian defence ministers at their meeting in 2018.

Giang also invited Gerasimov to pay an official visit to Vietnam. The Russian officer accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Also on April 24, the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army met with Philippine Undersecretary of National Defence Lt. Gen. Cardozo M. Luna.


The Vietnamese officer said the sound relations between the two states and militaries have been strengthened unceasingly in various aspects. Particularly, both sides have always coordinated to well resolve East Sea-related issues in line with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

He asked the Philippine Department of National Defence to share experience in counter-terrorism and natural disaster response, assist the Vietnamese Defence Ministry in English training for military officers, and discuss cooperation in the areas of shared concern.

Luna said as a responsible member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines considers cooperation with regional countries as a focus, and it attaches special importance to the ties with Vietnam.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will share its experience in national development and military building with his country.

Echoing the Vietnamese side’s view on the settlement of East Sea issues on the basis of international law, he affirmed that the Philippine Department of National Defence respects and adheres to the DOC and will promote the building of a code of conduct in the waters between ASEAN and China, thereby helping to build a region of unity, cooperation and prosperous development.

At the meeting, Giang also voiced his hope that the Philippine department will attend and support events that Vietnam will host when it holds the ASEAN Chair in 2020, including the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting.

The two officers also agreed on some exchange and cooperation activities, showing the readiness to assist each other in the fields their countries has strengths in.-VNA