Da Nang: 16th Vietnam-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue

On October 28, the 16th Vietnam - Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue took place in Da Nang city.

The Dialogue was chaired by: Head of the Vietnamese delegation was Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense . Head of the Singapore delegation was Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defense.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that 2025 will witness a historic milestone in bilateral relations between Vietnam and Singapore when the two countries upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the official visit of General Secretary To Lam and his wife to Singapore in March 2025.

This is vivid evidence of the political determination of the two countries in constantly strengthening and elevating bilateral relations.

During the dialogue, the two sides discussed the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized the important role of ASEAN in shaping and maintaining the regional security structure, promoting substantive cooperation between member countries as well as between ASEAN and its partners.

Regarding the East Sea, the Senior Lieutenant General affirmed Vietnam's consistent stance of persistently fighting to resolve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and supporting the early signing of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) in a practical and effective manner.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, and Deputy Minister of National Defense, spoke at the dialogue. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)

Regarding the cooperation process of ADMM (ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting) and ADMM+ (ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus), Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that Vietnam highly appreciates the role and practical and effective contributions of Singapore to the cooperation process of ADMM and ADMM+.

Vietnam pledges to continue to actively and responsibly participate in the joint efforts of ADMM and ADMM+ for regional peace and stability.

Acknowledging the positive results of bilateral defense cooperation in recent times, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that in the coming time, the two sides continue to strengthen trustworthy, comprehensive, and substantive cooperation.

The focus is on enhancing delegation exchanges, meetings and contacts at high and all levels; promoting the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms; maintaining effective cooperation in human resource training; and enhancing cooperation and exchanges between the Navies, Air Forces and Coast Guards of the two countries.

The two sides will study the possibility of expanding cooperation in a number of areas where both sides have strengths and needs (such as cyber security, search and rescue); actively consult and support each other within the ASEAN military-defense framework.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien respectfully thanked Singapore for receiving officers of the Vietnamese Navy, Border Guard and Coast Guard to work at the Information Sharing Center (IFC) of Singapore.

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense invites the Singaporean Ministry of National Defense to continue sending officers to participate in Vietnamese Language Training Courses and International Defense Official Courses at the National Defense Academy; and welcomes delegations from the Academy and Schools to visit and conduct research in each country.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense respectfully invites the leaders of the Singapore Ministry of National Defense and Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary, to attend the 3rd Vietnam International Defense Exhibition scheduled to be held in 2026.

Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defence, speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)

Speaking at the Dialogue, Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defence, said he was honored to co-chair the 16th Vietnam-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue with Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien; and at the same time, sent condolences to the victims and families affected by natural disasters and floods in Vietnam recently.

Mr. Chan Heng Kee affirmed that Singapore is always ready to coordinate and support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.

He emphasized that Vietnam and Singapore have a good bilateral cooperative relationship that is increasingly consolidated and developed, in which defense cooperation is a pillar.

Mr. Chan Heng Kee hopes that in the coming time, based on the results of the 16th Defense Policy Dialogue, the two sides will continue to coordinate and promote cooperation in the agreed fields, focusing on cooperation in the Navy, training, cyber security, etc.; thereby promoting the bilateral defense cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore to a new height.

At the end of the Dialogue, the two Heads of Delegation signed the 3-year Defense Cooperation Plan for the period 2025-2028, the Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing cooperation in the field of training between the two Defense Ministries; and witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two navies./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/da-nang-doi-thoai-chinh-sach-quoc-phong-viet-nam-singapore-lan-thu-16-post1073293.vnp