Following the ceremony, General Phan Van Giang held talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

General Phan Van Giang said the visit carried special significance as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and recently elevated ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to India earlier this month.

Reviewing the positive outcomes of bilateral defense cooperation, General Phan Van Giang said that based on the agreements already signed, defense ties between the two countries have advanced across all areas and achieved many practical results.

Key areas of cooperation include high-level delegation exchanges, regular consultation and dialogue mechanisms, training and education, cooperation among military services and branches, United Nations peacekeeping operations, defense industry collaboration, military courts and mutual support at international multilateral forums.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phan Van Giang thanked India’s Ministry of Defense for its effective support in improving the quality of training and teaching at Vietnam’s military academies, including a non-refundable aid package worth USD 1 million to build foreign language classrooms at the Air Force Officer Training School, as well as other preferential credit support packages.

General Phan Van Giang proposed that both sides continue coordinating to implement agreed areas of cooperation, focusing on maintaining effective delegation exchanges at all levels and annual cooperation mechanisms to strengthen political trust and deepen bilateral defense ties.

He also called for expanded cooperation in training and education.

Based on the memorandum of intent on education and training cooperation signed in 2024, General Phan Van Giang expressed hope that India would continue providing existing scholarship opportunities for Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense while considering additional slots in specialized fields needed by Vietnam.

The two sides also agreed to further promote cooperation among military services and branches, defense industry collaboration, United Nations peacekeeping operations, cybersecurity, military medicine and disaster relief, while continuing to support each other at international multilateral forums.

On this occasion, General Phan Van Giang invited leaders of India’s Ministry of Defense and Indian defense industry enterprises to attend and showcase products at the third Vietnam International Defense Expo, scheduled to take place this December.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phan Van Giang reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly and cooperative foreign policy based on diversification and multilateralization of external relations.

He stressed that Vietnam stands ready to cooperate with countries and international organizations for peace, cooperation and development while firmly maintaining its "Four No's" defense policy.

During the talks, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said he was honored to visit Vietnam on the occasion of the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh - a visionary leader admired and respected by the Indian people.

Rajnath Singh emphasized that India and Vietnam share a friendship built on the pillars of defense cooperation and mutual trust.

He said the visit held special significance as the two countries commemorate the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership, reflecting the depth and closeness of bilateral relations.

The Indian defense minister praised the positive results of bilateral defense cooperation, saying they demonstrated the high level of trust between the two sides and contributed to building strong defense ties for mutual benefit and future development.

He expressed hope that both sides would continue effectively implementing agreed cooperation areas, particularly delegation exchanges, training, capacity building and cooperation among military services and branches.

India’s Ministry of Defense, he said, remains ready to provide scholarship opportunities for Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense, contributing to increasingly substantive, effective and deeper bilateral defense cooperation commensurate with the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India.