Vietnam, France set to enhance defense cooperation

French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu (L) and Vietnam's Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang after signing a letter of intent on enhancing defense cooperation between the two countries in Hanoi, May 5, 2024. Photo by Manh Toan

Vietnam attaches importance to its strategic partnership with France, which has been developing extensively and intensively across various fields, including defense, General Giang affirmed at his talks with visiting French minister in Hanoi.

At the talks following a welcome ceremony for the French minister, Giang highlighted the significance of the visit in stepping up the bilateral defense cooperation, considering it evidence of the spirit of "closing the past and looking towards the bright future."

He said based on a joint vision statement on Vietnam-France defense cooperation for 2018-2028 and an amended agreement on the defense ties, numerous positive outcomes have been achieved across various fields, including delegation exchanges, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, training, defense industry, military medicine, the sharing of historical memories, war legacy remediation, UN peacekeeping missions, and mutual consultation and support at multilateral forums and mechanisms.

The Vietnamese minister suggested the two sides make greater efforts to enhance defense cooperation in these areas and actively engage in exchanges to achieve early consensus on the Vietnam-France defense cooperation programme for 2025-2028.

Lecornu highlighted the importance of the bilateral collaboration in sharing historical memories and addressing the consequences of war between the two countries.

He expressed his hope that the bilateral defense ties will be deepened towards greater effectiveness to make it commensurate with the strategic partnership.

The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Regarding marine issues, they stressed the importance of peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea, and the effective pursuit of an effective and practical Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.