Vietnam, Russia pledge to bolster defense ties at 8th strategic dialogue

At the dialogue on Wednesday, Chien thanked Senior Lieutenant General Fomin and the Russian Ministry of Defense delegation for attending a military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's August Revolution and National Day on September 2.

He noted that their participation in the parade underscored the significance of defense cooperation in strengthening the two countries’ traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two sides stressed the significance of scientific research collaboration through the Vietnam–Russia Tropical Center and pledged to effectively implement their annual cooperation plan and long-term program.

They agreed to actively carry out signed documents, focusing on delegation exchanges, training, cooperation among military services, academies and research institutions, military medicine, and experience sharing.

Chien noted that the Vietnamese defense ministry had recently inaugurated a monument at the Vietnam Military History Museum to honor Soviet Union military experts who supported Vietnam’s struggle for independence.

He also highlighted the Memorial to Soviet Union and Vietnamese Soldiers in Khanh Hoa Province and the monument in Moscow dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who defended the city during the Great Patriotic War.

He emphasized that these sites would further strengthen the traditional friendship and ties between the two nations and their armed forces.

Agreeing with Chien’s assessments, Fomin emphasized that defense cooperation has become a key pillar of Vietnam–Russia ties, built on traditional friendship and mutual trust over the past 75 years of their diplomatic engagement.

He expressed confidence that the dialogue’s outcomes would provide orientations for sustainable and practical defense collaboration in the years ahead.

Exchanging views on regional and global issues, Chien reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and multilateralism.

He also reiterated Vietnam’s defense policy of ‘four no’s’ — meaning no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases in Vietnamese territory, and no use or threat of force in international relations.

On the East Vietnam Sea issue, he emphasized the importance of peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, as well as regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC).

At the conclusion of the event, both sides signed the minutes of the dialogue.

On behalf of the state president of Vietnam, Chien presented the Friendship Order to Fomin in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and the broader partnership between the two countries.