Vietnam, Japan ink defense tech transfer deal

The signing happened during an official Vietnam visit by Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.

Nobuo Kishi was accorded an official welcome ceremony Saturday by his host, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang.

During their talks, the two ministers agreed that bilateral defense cooperation between Vietnam and Japan had entered "a new development phase."

They also witnessed the signing ceremony of a bilateral agreement on transferring defense equipment and technology between the two nations.

The two leaders agreed to work on another agreement on co-operation in military medicine and cyber security.

Vietnam’s Defense Minister Phan Van Giang (L) receives his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi in Hanoi, Sept. 11, 2021. Photo by Hieu Huy

They also agreed to continue to boost bilateral co-operation mechanisms such as the defense policy dialogue at the deputy ministerial level, consultation sessions between armed services, and promote collaboration in personnel training, defense industry, overcoming war consequences, and participating in UN peacekeeping activities.

The defense ministries said they were committed to fostering co-operation through multilateral mechanisms, especially the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), cyber security co-operation between Japan and ASEAN defense agencies.

In the new development phase of their bilateral defense cooperation, the two countries will proactively strengthen high-level delegation exchanges and multilateral cooperation, contributing to the peaceful and stable development in the region and in the world, they said.

During their talks, the two ministers also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the importance of freedom of navigation and over-flight in the face of regional complicated developments.

They reaffirmed the necessity of complying with international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The ministers also discussed their countries' experiences and role of armies in pandemic prevention and control.

The Sept 10-12 trip was Nobuo Kishi's first official visit to Vietnam as also his first trip abroad since taking office.

Vietnam and Japan signed a joint vision statement on defense relations in 2018.