Vietnam and the Philippines hold 7th Defense Policy Dialogue
WVR - On the afternoon of November 26, in Hanoi, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, and Philippine Undersecretary of National Defence Irineo C. Espino, co-chaired the 7th Vietnam-Philippines Defense Policy Dialogue.
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| Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, welcomes Philippine Undersecretary of National Defence Irineo C. Espino to Vietnam and co-chairs the 7th Vietnam-Philippines Defense Policy Dialogue. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Congratulating the Philippines on assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highly appreciated the theme chosen by the Philippines for 2026 and affirmed that Vietnam supports and believes the Philippines will successfully fulfill its significant role, contributing to strengthening ASEAN's unity and central role.
On behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien extended the warmest congratulations to all generals, officers, and soldiers of the Philippine Armed Forces on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Philippine Armed Forces (December 21, 1935 - December 21, 2025); shared with the Government, people, and Armed Forces of the Philippines over the severe losses in lives and property due to recent earthquakes and storms. The leadership of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam is confident that under the leadership of the Government and the active participation of the Philippine Armed Forces, the lives of people in affected areas will soon stabilize.
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| Regarding future cooperation directions, Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien suggested both sides continue to enhance reliable, comprehensive, and substantive cooperation. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Agreeing with the report of the 8th Vietnam-Philippines Joint Working Group on Defense Cooperation, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highly valued the comprehensive and substantive cooperation results between the agencies and units of the two countries' Ministries of National Defense since the 6th Defense Policy Dialogue (July 2024), notably the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level delegations; effectively maintaining dialogue, consultation, and exchange mechanisms from the Ministry of National Defense to military branches; cooperation in training and expertise sharing; defense industry; military medicine.
Recently, both sides have coordinated and supported each other at forums, multilateral mechanisms, and international events organized by each side, with naval and coast guard ships visiting each other on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership; proactively advising and actively coordinating in participating in activities supporting people in areas affected by the October 2025 earthquake in the Philippines, thereby spreading the spirit of friendship and mutual support between the peoples and armies of the two countries.
Highly appreciating the important contributions of the Philippines within the ADMM and ADMM mechanisms through active cooperation and many practical initiatives. Vietnam is committed to continuing its active and responsible participation in the joint efforts of ADMM and ADMM for regional peace and stability; ready to work with the Philippines and other countries to persistently resolve regional issues and disagreements based on international law, ASEAN principles, and the legitimate interests of all parties involved.
Regarding future cooperation directions, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense suggested both sides continue to enhance reliable, comprehensive, and substantive cooperation, focusing on: increasing delegation exchanges, meetings, and contacts at all levels; effectively utilizing existing cooperation mechanisms; promoting cooperation and exchange between the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard/Maritime Security Forces on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines (1976-2026); maintaining regular cooperation channels to update situations and promptly coordinate to effectively handle incidents at sea, humanely dealing with fishermen violating each other's maritime zones; effectively maintaining human resource training cooperation; exploring the possibility of expanding cooperation in potential areas where both sides have strengths and needs such as: defense industry, logistics, military medicine, maritime security, rescue and disaster relief, cybersecurity; actively consulting and supporting each other within the ASEAN military-defense framework...
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| Overview of the Dialogue. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
On this occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien cordially invited the leadership of the Department of National Defense and defense industry enterprises of the Philippines to attend the 3rd Vietnam International Defense Exhibition scheduled for late 2026.
Expressing gratitude to Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam for the warm reception, on behalf of the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Philippine Undersecretary of National Defence Irineo C. Espino congratulated Vietnam on the 80th National Day anniversary; extended heartfelt condolences for the losses in lives and property caused by natural disasters and storms in Vietnam.
Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino emphasized that 2025 marks an important milestone in the bilateral relations, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-Philippines Strategic Partnership (November 17, 2015 - November 17, 2025). Over the years, both sides have closely cooperated in various fields, including defense cooperation.
According to the Philippine Undersecretary of National Defence, this Dialogue plays a crucial role in reaffirming the shared vision for peace, security, stability, and development in the region, as well as realizing the shared vision for defense cooperation between the two sides. Appreciating Vietnam's role and contributions to ADMM and ADMM , looking forward to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year (1976-2026), Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino hopes both sides will further strengthen cooperation in defense.
During the Dialogue, both sides exchanged views on global and regional situations and shared concerns; emphasized ASEAN's important role in shaping and maintaining regional security architecture, promoting substantive cooperation among member countries, as well as between ASEAN and its partners.
Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) issue, both sides emphasized that as two countries with strategic interests in maintaining peace, security, and safety of maritime and aviation in the East Sea, they wish to continue coordinating to promote ASEAN's stance of resolving all disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; effectively and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon concluding negotiations and signing an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law.
Concluding the Dialogue, the two Heads of Delegation signed the Dialogue Minutes and witnessed the signing of the Terms of Reference (TOR) on enhancing cooperation in the field of military medicine.
