Politics

Vietnam – Japan defence cooperation expands substantively: official

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang said the two sides have maintained defence cooperation mechanisms effectively, including the deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue and consultations among staff officers of the naval, ground and air forces.

The meeting between Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki in Hanoi on May 28 (Photo: People's Army Newspaper)
The meeting between Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki in Hanoi on May 28 (Photo: People's Army Newspaper)

Hanoi (VNA) – Defence cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has continued to expand substantively and become increasingly effective and practical in recent years, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang affirmed during a reception for Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki in Hanoi on May 28.

Thang stressed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World with Japan.

He noted the two sides have maintained defence cooperation mechanisms effectively, including the deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue and consultations among staff officers of the naval, ground and air forces. Cooperation in training, defence industry, technology transfer and war aftermath settlement has also recorded positive results.

The Vietnamese official suggested the ambassador continue paying attention to and directing the implementation of bilateral defence cooperation activities in a substantive manner, focusing on delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones; maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue and the deputy ministerial-level dialogue between the countries' foreign and defence ministries; and promoting ties among military services.

He also called for the effective implementation of the letter of intent on training cooperation signed in December 2025, along with enhanced collaboration in military medicine, cybersecurity, United Nations peacekeeping operations and war aftermath settlement. He stressed the importance of mutual support at multilateral mechanisms and forums, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Thang took the occasion to invite leaders of Japan’s Ministry of Defence, Self-Defense Forces and defence enterprises to attend the third Vietnam International Defence Expo, scheduled to take place in Hanoi in December 2026.

For his part, Ito highly valued the growing ties between Japan and Vietnam, describing defence cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral relations.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue coordinating closely to implement the agreed cooperation activities, particularly in the field of defence, building on the outcomes of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s recent official visit to Vietnam.

The ambassador said priority areas for cooperation include United Nations peacekeeping operations, high-level delegation exchanges and engagements, and personnel training, thereby contributing more to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World between the two countries./.

VNA
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