Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien: Vietnam modernizes weapons to protect the Fatherland

The Vietnamese delegation was co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu and Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense . The Japanese delegation was co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Namazu Hiroyuki and Deputy Defense Minister Kano Koji.

Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Vietnam and Japan co-chaired the dialogue.

PHOTO: KIEU TRINH

At the dialogue, both sides appreciated the strong development of Vietnam -Japan relations. The two countries have high strategic trust and share common vision and viewpoints on many regional and international issues.

Besides, the two sides attach importance to bilateral relations and affirmed to continue promoting cooperation in depth to meet the common interests of the two countries.

Speaking at the dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien reaffirmed Vietnam's "four no's" defense policy and emphasized 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.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, 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.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien speaks

PHOTO: KIEU TRINH

Vietnam always focuses on building human resources, modernizing weapons and military equipment to serve the purpose of protecting the Fatherland and protecting peace; always wishes to expand cooperation with all countries, including Japan, a country with developed science, technology and engineering, thereby improving the defense industry capacity in the direction of 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 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

To maintain 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, including: the two sides have established and regularly maintained mechanisms for delegation exchanges, dialogues and consultations; the cooperation and support of the Japanese Government and Ministry of Defense have contributed to improving the capacity of the Vietnam People's Army; and cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hopes that after the dialogue, the two sides will sign a Letter of Intent on training cooperation; he wants Japan to train in high-tech, precision mechanics, cyber security, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

Besides, he also hopes that the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to support and actively assist Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war through non-refundable aid packages and preferential loans from the Japanese Government.

Regarding the defense industry, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that both 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.