Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang Pays Official Visit to Japan

From July 12 to 15, 2026, at the invitation of Japanese Minister of Defence Koizumi Shinjiro, General Phan Van Giang—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence—led a high-ranking delegation from the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence on an official visit to Japan. The visit contributed to realizing the shared understandings reached by the senior leaders of both nations, further deepening the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, and fostering increasingly substantive and effective bilateral defense cooperation.

During the visit, General Phan Van Giang visited the Embassy of Vietnam in Japan, paid tribute at the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Room, and met with embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan. He also held talks with Japanese Minister of Defence Koizumi Shinjiro, met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru, and visited the Joint Staff College of Japan, where he exchanged views with the college's leadership on training, research, and cooperation in the defense sector.

On July 13, Japanese Minister of Defence Koizumi Shinjiro presided over the official welcoming ceremony for General Phan Van Giang at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Japan. Following the ceremony, the two ministers held talks, during which they highly valued the positive developments in Vietnam-Japan relations in recent times and affirmed that defense cooperation remains a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. The two sides agreed to continue effectively implementing existing cooperation mechanisms, enhancing delegation exchanges at all levels, and maintaining defense policy dialogues. ...expand cooperation in human resource training, the defense industry, defense equipment and technology, UN peacekeeping, search and rescue, addressing the aftermath of war, and other areas aligned with each side's needs and capabilities.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, affirming the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight; and of resolving disputes through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). Japan affirmed that it regards Vietnam as a key regional partner and highly values ​​Vietnam's growing role and stature; it also expressed confidence that the visit would generate further momentum for defense cooperation and contribute to deepening the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the time ahead.