The first Vietnam-Japan Deputy Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (2+2)

The first Vietnam - Japan Deputy Foreign Ministerial-Defense Dialogue (2+2) is of great significance, demonstrating political trust between the two countries, contributing to ensuring security, building trust, building a peaceful and stable environment, and making important contributions to cooperation and development in the region as well as the world.

On December 4, in Tokyo, Japan, the first Vietnam - Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' and Defense Ministers' Dialogue (2+2) took place. The Vietnamese delegation was co-chaired by Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Foreign Minister, and Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission , and Deputy Minister of Defense.

The Japanese delegation was co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Namazu Hiroyuki and Deputy Defense Minister Kano Koji. Attending were officials from the Foreign and Defense Ministries of Vietnam and Japan.

The organization of the first Vietnam - Japan Deputy Foreign Ministerial-Defense Dialogue (2+2) is of great significance, demonstrating political trust between the two countries, contributing to ensuring security, building trust, building a peaceful and stable environment, and making important contributions to cooperation and development in the region as well as the world.

At the Dialogue, the two sides highly appreciated the strong development of Vietnam-Japan relations, emphasizing that Vietnam and Japan have high strategic trust; share common visions and viewpoints on many regional and international issues. The two sides attach importance to bilateral relations, affirming to continue promoting cooperation areas to continue to go into depth, meeting the common interests of the two countries. The two sides emphasized the importance of and promoting the central role of ASEAN, strengthening cooperation at ASEAN-led forums.

Mr. Namazu Hiroyuki, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. Kano Koji, Deputy Minister of Defense of Japan at the dialogue. (Photo: Ministry of National Defense)

The two sides agreed that defense cooperation is an important pillar in the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is being widely implemented, including regular dialogue and consultation at all levels, information sharing, training, coaching, capacity building, etc.

Speaking at the Dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien reaffirmed Vietnam's "four no's" defense policy, emphasizing that Vietnam's defense is an all-people defense, of a peaceful and self-defense nature; actively, proactively, resolutely, and persistently preventing and repelling the risk of war.

The consistent goal of Vietnam's national defense is to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; protect national and ethnic interests; maintain political stability and a peaceful environment for national construction and development; demonstrate noble international responsibility and obligations, and the desire to contribute to peace, prosperity, and common development cooperation in the region and the world.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense at the dialogue. (Photo: Ministry of National Defense)

Vietnam implements a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations. Vietnam is a friend and reliable partner of all countries and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam promotes defense cooperation with other countries with the aim of strengthening friendship, cooperation and development for peace and stability in each country as well as in the region and the world. Vietnam always focuses on building human resources, modernizing weapons and military equipment to serve the purpose of defending the Fatherland and protecting peace.

Vietnam always wishes to expand cooperation with all countries, including Japan, a country with developed science, technology and engineering, thereby enhancing the defense industry's capacity towards self-reliance, self-reliance, dual-use and modernity.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that Vietnam is deeply concerned about the complicated situation in the East Sea in recent times. Vietnam's consistent stance is to resolve all disputes and disagreements in the East Sea by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. For a peaceful, friendly and cooperative East Sea, forces operating at sea need to exercise restraint, avoid actions that increase tension and complicate the situation, treat fishermen humanely, build trust, and promote substantive cooperation on the basis of international law.

Regarding bilateral defense cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his joy at many meaningful results, emphasizing three important issues.

Firstly, the two sides have established and regularly maintained mechanisms for delegation exchanges, dialogues and consultations. Of which, the Deputy Ministerial-level Defense Policy Dialogue has held 11 sessions, which is an important mechanism to review, evaluate and determine the direction of Vietnam-Japan defense cooperation.

In addition, the two sides also organized consultations between the staff officers of the three services of the Navy, Army and Air Force. These mechanisms contribute to enhancing mutual understanding, creating conditions for the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and working levels of the two sides to promptly exchange and promote cooperation contents to become increasingly in-depth, substantive, in accordance with the needs, aspirations and response capabilities of each side. The Deputy Minister suggested that in the coming time, the two sides regularly and effectively maintain these important mechanisms.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense at the dialogue. (Photo: Ministry of National Defense)

Second, Vietnam highly appreciates the cooperation and support of the Japanese Government and Ministry of Defense in contributing to improving the capacity of the Vietnam People's Army, in which education and training are a bright spot. The Senior Lieutenant General hopes that after the Dialogue, the two Defense Ministries will sign a Letter of Intent on training cooperation, which will further promote this field. He hopes that Japan will provide training in high-tech specialties, precision mechanics, cyber security, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, etc.

In addition, cooperation contents on capacity building such as underwater mine clearance, air rescue, underwater medicine, aviation meteorology, etc. are regularly deployed by agencies and units of the two sides.

Third, regarding cooperation in overcoming war consequences, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hopes that the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to support and actively assist Vietnam in overcoming war consequences through non-refundable aid packages and preferential loans from the Japanese Government.

Regarding the defense industry, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides continue to have specific, practical and effective projects. In particular, after the Dialogue, the two countries' Defense Ministries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on search and rescue, creating an important foundation to promote cooperation between the two sides in the coming time./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/doi-thoai-cap-thu-truong-ngoai-giao-quoc-phong-viet-nam-nhat-ban-22-lan-thu-nhat-post1081011.vnp