On the morning of 2/6, General Nguyen Tan Cuong, chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and deputy minister of national defense, held talks with General Uchikura Hiroaki, chief of staff of Japan's Joint Staff, during his official visit to Vietnam.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong noted that Vietnam-Japan defense relations have expanded, deepening and becoming more substantive. Both nations have achieved significant results in areas such as training; cooperation between military services; United Nations peacekeeping operations; defense industry; and maritime security.

He also proposed strengthening delegation exchanges at all levels, fostering inter-service cooperation, and expanding expert exchanges in cybersecurity. He called for increased training, exercises, and workshops on cybersecurity. Vietnam also seeks to enhance cooperation in peacekeeping and the defense industry.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, chief of the General Staff and deputy minister of national defense, and General Uchikura Hiroaki review the honor guard. *Photo: Giang Huy*

General Nguyen Tan Cuong expressed gratitude for Japan's military scholarships for Vietnamese officers and requested an expansion of training programs and quotas in science, engineering, and technology. He affirmed that Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense is "ready to host personnel from Japan's Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces for the International Defense Officials course, as well as Vietnamese language courses at military academies and schools."

The chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army also extended an invitation to General Uchikura Hiroaki, leaders from Japan's Ministry of Defense, and Japanese defense industry businesses to attend the 3rd Vietnam International Defense Expo, slated for December.

General Uchikura Hiroaki expressed confidence that his official visit to Vietnam would further deepen cooperation between the two countries, particularly in defense.

The chief of staff of Japan's Joint Staff agreed that both sides would continue coordinating the implementation of agreed cooperation initiatives. This, he noted, would further advance bilateral defense relations, aligning them with the framework of the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ha Huy