On the morning of 19/5, General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, hosted a welcoming ceremony and held talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

General Phan Van Giang highlighted the special significance of Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Vietnam. This visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the two nations establishing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a relationship recently elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the talks, General Phan Van Giang extended an invitation to leaders from India's Ministry of Defense and its defense industry enterprises. He encouraged them to participate and exhibit products at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2026, scheduled for December in Hanoi.

General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inspecting the honor guard. *Giang Huy*

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense noted the recent growth in Vietnam-India defense cooperation. This collaboration spans various areas, including training, education, inter-service cooperation, United Nations peacekeeping, and the defense industry.

He expressed gratitude to India's Ministry of Defense for supporting the enhancement of training quality at Vietnamese military academies. This support includes a 1 million USD non-refundable aid package for constructing a foreign language classroom at the Air Force Officer Training School, part of the Air Defense - Air Force Service.

The General requested India to continue offering training scholarships to Vietnam's Ministry of Defense and to increase quotas in specific in-demand specializations. He also called for greater cooperation in defense industry, peacekeeping, cybersecurity, military medicine, and search and rescue.

General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, welcoming Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. *Giang Huy*

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh affirmed the enduring trust and strong friendship between Vietnam and India. He emphasized defense cooperation as a critical pillar in their bilateral relationship.

Rajnath Singh stated that India's Ministry of Defense is prepared to prioritize scholarship programs for Vietnam. He expressed a desire for both nations to continue close coordination, fostering increasingly substantive defense cooperation.

Concluding the talks, General Phan Van Giang and Minister Rajnath Singh symbolically inaugurated the foreign language classroom at the Air Force Officer Training School, a facility supported by the Indian Government. They also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Vietnam's University of Information and Communications and India's Military College of Telecommunication Engineering.

The Vietnam International Defense Expo 2026 is scheduled for 10/12 to 13/12 at Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi. The expo's theme is "Peace, Friendship, Cooperation for Development". Spanning nearly 150,000 square meters, the event expects to welcome approximately 170 delegations from over 50 countries, alongside numerous defense industry corporations and enterprises.

Son Ha - Giang Huy