Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth discussed bilateral cooperation during their phone talks on February 7.
Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang holds phone talks with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on February 7. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –🥃 Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang held phone talks with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on February 7, discussing bilateral cooperation.
Giang congratulated Hegseth on his appointment as the 29th US Secretary of Defence while reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralisation, and proactive international integration, and being a friend, a reliable partner, and responsible member of the international community.
Vietnam always sees the US as a leading strategic partner, he underscored, expressing his delight over the robust defence collaboration between the two countries over the past time which has expanded across multiple fields in alignment with broader Vietnam-US relations as well as the outcomes of Giang’s official trip to the US in September.
Describing post-war recovery cooperation as a bright spot in the bilateral defence ties, Giang commended the US’ efforts in addressing war consequences, particularly its continued commitment to dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airbase, assistance to people with disabilities, bomb and mine clearance, and the search and repatriation of Vietnamese soldiers’ remains. He also acknowledged the two nations' collaboration in locating US servicemen missing in action during the war, underscoring the importance of these initiatives in promoting the spirit of shelving the past and looking toward the future.
Looking ahead, the Vietnamese minister expressed his hope that the two sides will maintain the exchange of high-level delegations as well as existing consultation and dialogue mechanisms, and soon organise the 13th Vietnam - US Defence Policy Dialogue in Vietnam.
As the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of their relations this year, he called for meaningful defence cooperation activities to celebrate this milestone.
Giang took the occasion to invite Hegseth to pay an official trip to Vietnam this year.
Hegseth, for his part, affirmed that the Trump administration values the cooperation with Vietnam, hoping to further enhance the defence ties, particularly in war legacy remediation, as agreed upon by both sides./.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the US - Vietnam relationship is a typical model in international relations and shares many common interests.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on January 21 sent a letter of congratulations to Marco Rubio on his appointment as US Secretary of State, which was approved by the US Senate the same day.
Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 21 (Hanoi time) sent congratulations to Donald Trump on being sworn in as the 47th President of the US.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
