The 16th Vietnam-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of October 28, at the Military Region 5 Command, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, and Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defense, Head of the Singapore delegation, co-chaired the 16th Vietnam - Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue.

The two heads of delegations signed the 3-year defense cooperation plan for the 2025-2028 period and the Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing cooperation in the field of training between the two Defense Ministries - Photo: VGP/Nhat Anh

Speaking at the dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that 2025 is an important historical milestone in bilateral relations when Vietnam and Singapore upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam and his wife to Singapore. This is a development of historical significance, demonstrating the political determination of the two countries in consolidating and developing defense cooperation, bringing bilateral relations into depth, effectiveness and substance.

Discussing the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed the important role of ASEAN in shaping and maintaining the regional security structure, promoting substantive cooperation among member countries, as well as between ASEAN and its partners.

Regarding the East Sea, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized 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.

Regarding the cooperation process of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), 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 peace and stability in the region.

Acknowledging the positive results of bilateral defense cooperation in recent times, the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense suggested that in the coming time, the two sides continue to strengthen trustworthy, comprehensive, and substantive cooperation, focusing on the following contents: Strengthening the exchange of delegations, meetings, and contacts at high and all levels, promoting the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, maintaining effective cooperation in human resource training; strengthening cooperation and exchanges between the Navies, Air Forces, and Coast Guards of the two countries; studying 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 consulting and supporting each other within the ASEAN military-defense framework.

Signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the navies of Vietnam and Singapore - Photo: VGP/Nhat Anh

Speaking at the dialogue, Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defense, sent condolences to the victims and families affected by recent natural disasters and floods, and emphasized that Singapore is ready to coordinate and support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.

Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defence Chan Heng Kee affirmed that Vietnam and Singapore have a very good bilateral cooperative relationship that is increasingly consolidated and developed, in which defense cooperation is a pillar. At the same time, he expressed his hope that, based on the results of this dialogue, the two sides will continue to coordinate and promote comprehensive cooperation in the agreed fields, focusing on naval cooperation, training, cyber security, etc., thereby promoting the Vietnam-Singapore bilateral defense cooperation to a new level.

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

Nhat Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/doi-thoai-chinh-sach-quoc-phong-viet-nam-singapore-lan-thu-16-102251028134749948.htm