The Ministry of National Defence this morning convened a conference to prepare for the third Vietnam International Defence Expo. Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Deputy Minister of National Defence, chaired the meeting.

Reporting at the conference, Major General Phan Thi Hoai Van, Deputy Director of the General Department of Defence Industry, noted that the Vietnam International Defence Expo has been held twice, each edition expanding in scale and improving in quality.

The 2022 and 2024 exhibitions were organised in a comprehensive format, featuring indoor displays of products and models combined with real equipment showcased outdoors, along with demonstrations of weapons and technical equipment.

Weapons and technical equipment displayed by defence industry enterprises covered three services - Navy, Air Force and Army - alongside items currently in service with the Vietnam People’s Army. Over two editions, the exhibition achieved significant development, surpassing the set objectives and requirements.

The 2022 and 2024 exhibitions attracted broad attention from the domestic public and the international community. They were regarded as important milestones, affirming Vietnam’s position, prestige and its peaceful, self-defensive defence foreign policy.

Notably, the participation of major global defence industry corporations and high-level delegations from numerous countries underscored the exhibition’s growing appeal and Vietnam’s increasingly prominent role in multilateral defence cooperation.

The exhibition is organised to implement the Party’s and State’s policies, as well as the Central Military Commission’s guidelines, on international integration, defence diplomacy and the development of a self-reliant, dual-use and modern defence industry. It also aims to affirm Vietnam’s defence standing and reputation internationally, while inspiring pride and responsibility among officers, soldiers and citizens in the cause of national construction and protection.

The project for the third Vietnam International Defence Expo - 2026, under the theme “Peace, Friendship, Cooperation for Mutual Development”, envisions a large-scale event. Diverse categories of weapons and technical equipment will be displayed alongside a range of activities, including product exhibitions, seminars and discussions, drills, live demonstrations and business networking sessions.

Based on the report of the General Department of Defence Industry and the opinions expressed by representatives of agencies and units, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, on behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, requested the General Department of Defence Industry to coordinate closely with relevant agencies and units to comprehensively review the entire project. He stressed the need to ensure suitability, coherence and practicality, with detailed and specific timelines for each stage.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that this is not only a large-scale defence foreign affairs event, but also a milestone affirming the organisational capacity, credibility and integration stature of the Vietnam People’s Army in the context of multilateral defence cooperation.

He emphasised that the success of the exhibition would contribute to spreading the message of a peace-loving Vietnam that is ready to cooperate and transparent in its defence policy, while also demonstrating the development level of the national defence industry.

From that perspective, he underscored that the third edition must be organised to higher standards, with greater professionalism and deeper cooperation, commensurate with the country’s rising international standing. This is not only the honour of the Vietnam People’s Army, but also the honour, image and national prestige of the country.

Therefore, preparations must begin early and be carried out comprehensively, closely and meticulously in every aspect, from content, protocol and external relations to communications, logistics and technical support.

In particular, ensuring absolute safety for people, vehicles, equipment and all activities throughout the exhibition must be the top priority. Respectful organisation, professional management and absolute safety in every stage are the most direct measures of national organisational capacity.

Tran Thuong