(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam is pursuing a policy of becoming a strong and prosperous maritime nation, ensuring sustainable and secure development from the sea, Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang said at a reception on Monday in Hanoi for Nikolai Patrushev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board.
 Talks are held between Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang and Nikolai Patrushev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board (Photo: Le Phuong) |
General Giang stressed Vietnam’s commitment to building a sustainable marine economy while ensuring national defense and security, protecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and strengthening diplomacy and international cooperation at sea to maintain a peaceful, stable environment for development.
Lauding Russia’s maritime power, General Giang said he believes Russia will continue to make positive contributions to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region and the world.
As defense cooperation is a pillar in their bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, General Giang expressed his hope that collaboration between the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the Maritime Board of Russia will be further strengthened for mutual benefit, in line with international law and the laws of each country, to meet the needs and capacities of each side.
Vietnam’s consistent stance on East Sea issues is to resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), General Giang said, underscoring the importance of full compliance with the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and of accelerating negotiations towards the early conclusion of a substantive, effective, and efficient Code of Conduct (COC) in those waters.
Patrushev said maritime cooperation has boosted defense ties between the two countries in accordance with major directions for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed by the two countries’ top leaders in May. He said bilateral maritime cooperation has great potential, and continued discussions will focus on naval cooperation, education and training, and marine scientific research.
After the talks, a memorandum of understanding on maritime consultation was signed by the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the Maritime Board of Russia.