On the morning of July 21, General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam's Minister of National Defense, hosted an official welcome ceremony and held bilateral talks with Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Chan Chun Sing, who is on an official visit to Vietnam.

General Giang congratulated Singapore on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Singapore Armed Forces, highlighting the close friendship and strategic similarities between the two ASEAN member states.

He emphasized that the recent upgrade of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March marked a historic milestone, opening a new chapter for collaboration, especially in defense.

In recent years, Vietnam and Singapore have seen substantive, comprehensive progress in defense cooperation, contributing significantly to strengthening political trust.

Delegation exchanges at various levels have been prioritized, while consultation mechanisms, policy dialogues, and information exchanges have been effectively maintained.

Collaboration between military services, maritime security, and training remains a highlight, with both countries actively supporting each other at multilateral forums and defense mechanisms.

General Giang thanked Singapore’s Ministry of Defence for offering scholarships for military training and language courses, and for hosting Vietnamese naval, coast guard, and border guard officers at the Information Fusion Centre (IFC).

He also expressed appreciation for Singapore’s high-level delegation attending the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, the 35th anniversary of the All-People National Defense Day, and the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo.

Looking ahead, General Giang proposed that both sides continue to deepen their comprehensive and practical cooperation through enhanced high-level exchanges, more effective use of current dialogue and consultation mechanisms, and strengthened cooperation among military services.

He also encouraged expanded exchanges of young officers and experience-sharing in areas aligned with both countries' needs and capabilities.

Minister Chan Chun Sing affirmed the strong bilateral defense ties and voiced his support for advancing cooperation to match the level of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

He welcomed continued training exchanges and confirmed Singapore’s readiness to host Vietnamese military officers. He also agreed to work together toward a successful upcoming defense policy dialogue in Vietnam.

Earlier the same day, Minister Chan visited the headquarters of Viettel Group, a major Vietnamese military-run telecommunications and technology enterprise.

Tran Thuong