Vietnam and Russia discuss strengthening defense cooperation

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang met with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov to discuss strengthening bilateral defense cooperation. The meeting took place during the state visit of Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam to Russia.

Key areas of cooperation highlighted include high-level delegation exchanges, military training, scientific and technological research, and cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining strategic dialogue mechanisms and supporting each other within multilateral forums such as the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

A significant milestone noted during the discussions was the inauguration of a disease prevention laboratory at the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center. Moving forward, Vietnam seeks increased support from Russia regarding scholarships for military personnel, training for officers, and technical equipment for peacekeeping missions.