The first 2+2 Diplomacy - Defense Dialogue at the Deputy Ministerial level between Vietnam and Japan

On December 4, in Tokyo, the first 2+2 Diplomacy - Defense Dialogue at the Deputy Ministerial level between Vietnam and Japan took place. Attending the Dialogue were representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defense of both sides and representatives of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese delegation was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien - Deputy Minister of National Defense and Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu - Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Japanese delegation was co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Namazu Hiroyuki and Deputy Defense Minister Kano Koji.

Deputy Ministers chaired the Dialogue.

At the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and sincere spirit on bilateral cooperation, the two sides' foreign and defense policies, the regional and world situation; affirmed that upgrading the Strategic Partnership Dialogue to the 2+2 Diplomacy - Defense Dialogue mechanism at the Deputy Minister level shows that the relationship between the two countries has developed very well with high political trust.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to affirm that the relationship between Vietnam and Japan has continuously developed strongly, substantially, and effectively on all pillars of cooperation such as economics, politics, security - defense, science - technology, cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange, local cooperation... after two years of upgrading to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; there is high consensus at all levels of both countries on further promoting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.

Vietnam consistently emphasizes that it considers Japan one of its leading and long-term important partners, accompanying Vietnam in the new development period, supporting Japan to promote its active and constructive role in regional and international issues... Japan affirms that it considers Vietnam an important partner in implementing policies for the region. The two sides agreed to closely coordinate to promote the concretization of agreements between the two countries' senior leaders, further deepening the Vietnam - Japan comprehensive strategic partnership in all fields in line with the potential and interests of both sides.

Overview of the Dialogue

Regarding defense - security cooperation, the two sides assessed that there has been much progress, specific cooperation in many contents such as exchanging delegations at all levels, maintaining regular dialogue mechanisms, friendly exchanges between the two countries, training human resources, transferring defense equipment, cooperation in rescue, military medicine, information sharing... in the past time; agreed to continue to closely coordinate and promote this important pillar, contributing to strengthening the friendly relationship and cooperation for development for peace and stability of each country, in the region and in the world.

Recognizing that the world and regional situation is changing rapidly with many intertwined opportunities and challenges, the two sides agreed that Vietnam and Japan need to continue to strengthen exchanges and share views and positions on regional and international issues, closely coordinate at regional and international forums; agreed on the need to continue to promote ASEAN's central role in the regional structure as well as promote cooperation on issues of mutual concern.

In the framework of the first 2+2 Diplomacy - Defense Dialogue at the Deputy Minister level between Vietnam and Japan, on the same afternoon, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro received Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu. On this occasion, the two countries' Defense Ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of search and rescue and a Letter of Intent on cooperation in the field of training.