(Bqp.vn) - On March 18, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Thailand, Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Thai Permanent Secretary for Defense General Sanitchanog Sangkachantra co-chaired the 6th Vietnam - Thailand Defense Policy Dialogue.
During the dialogue.
At the event, both sides exchanged views on the global and regional situation and other issues of mutual concern, highlighted the role of the region and ASEAN-led mechanisms, and affirmed their joint efforts to contribute positively to strengthening ASEAN’s unity and its central role in the regional security architecture. They also emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through peaceful means, based on international law.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien speaking at the dialogue.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, multilateralization and diversification of relations. The country committed to resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, based on international law. Regarding the East Sea (internationally South China Sea) issues, Vietnam’s consistent position is that all parties concerned should abide by international practices and law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982; comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and expedite the negotiation and signing of a substantial and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
General Sanitchanog Sangkachantra speaking at the dialogue.
Both sides assessed that, following the 5th Vietnam - Thailand Defense Policy Dialogue in December 2023, the bilateral defense cooperation has been actively and effectively implemented, achieving significant results in areas such as delegation exchanges at various levels, effective maintenance of existing cooperation mechanisms and establishment of new ones, cooperation between arms and services, education and training, military healthcare, border management and protection, settlement of war legacy, and mutual support at ASEAN-led multilateral mechanisms and forums.
All delegates in a joint photo.
Both sides agreed to continue efforts to strengthen defense cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand, in line with the Vietnam - Thailand enhanced strategic partnership. They will focus on enhancing trust between the two defense ministries and militaries; increasing high-level delegation exchanges, effectively maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms, including the defense policy dialogue; fostering cooperation in education and training; promoting young officer exchanges; boosting collaboration between arms and services; consulting and sharing views on issues of mutual concern. The two sides also agreed to continue to cooperate with and support each other at regional and international multilateral forums. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND) welcomed the Thai Ministry of Defense to send students to training courses in Vietnam and delegations from the Thai Defense Ministry and the Royal Thai Army to visit and learn from the Vietnamese MND’s training institutions.
The same day, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien paid a courtesy call on Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Phumtham Wechayachai welcomed Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien to co-chair the 6th Defense Policy Dialogue, highlighted the bilateral defense cooperation, and highly appreciated the support and participation of the Vietnamese MND in Thailand’s initiatives and multilateral activities. He emphasized that the bilateral defense cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand has great potential for further development.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highly appreciated the role and active and pro-active participation of Thailand in general and Thailand’s Ministry of Defense in particular in promoting multilateral cooperation, especially within the ASEAN framework, which has contributed to strengthening solidarity inside the association and raising the region’s position.
On this occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that the Vietnamese MND will send a delegation to participate in the Defense and Security Exhibition in Thailand in November 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Phumtham Wechayachai happily accepted the invitation to visit the Vietnamese MND, affirming his support for the implementation of the outcomes of the dialogue and strengthening of the bilateral defense ties, including boosting the cooperation between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Thailand Maritime Enforcement Command Center, collaboration in cyber-security, and trans-national crime prevention.
