On the afternoon of September 15, at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang - Politburo member - Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense welcomed Assistant to the President and Chairman of the Russian Federal Maritime Council Nicolai Patrushev, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.
After the welcoming ceremony, General Phan Van Giang held talks with Assistant to the President and Chairman of the Russian Federal Maritime Council Nicolai Patrushev.
General Phan Van Giang affirmed that the Vietnamese people always remember and are grateful for the great, effective, wholehearted support and assistance of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today in the struggle for independence and national reunification and in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
General Phan Van Giang believes that, together with the Monument to the Soviet/Russian and Vietnamese soldiers in Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa), the Monument to the Vietnamese international volunteer soldiers participating in the fight to protect the capital Moscow in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow (Russian Federation), the symbol of Vietnam-Soviet solidarity and friendship at the Vietnam Military History Museum will contribute to further strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries.
At the meeting, the two sides discussed the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern. General Phan Van Giang affirmed that Vietnam is determined to become a strong country in the sea, rich from the sea, with sustainable development, prosperity, security and safety; sustainable development of the marine economy associated with ensuring national defense, security, maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening foreign affairs and international cooperation in the sea, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam's consistent stance is to resolve disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC); promote the early completion of negotiations and signing of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in a practical, effective and efficient manner.
General Phan Van Giang expressed his delight at the fact that the Vietnam - Russia defense cooperation relationship has been actively and effectively implemented by both sides in the fields of: Navy, training, and marine science research within the framework of the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center; cooperation and experience exchange on management and protection of national borders...
For his part, Mr. Nikolai Patrushev respectfully thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for the delegation's warm welcome; emphasized that maritime cooperation between the two countries contributes to deepening bilateral defense cooperation in line with the major orientations of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation agreed upon by senior leaders of the two countries in May 2025.
Assistant to the President and Chairman of the Russian Maritime Council Nicolai Patrushev affirmed that maritime cooperation between the two countries still has great potential; expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to discuss to promote cooperation in this field, focusing on maritime cooperation; education, training, maritime science research...; and at the same time studying maritime fields where both sides have potential.
At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on consultation in the maritime field between the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the Russian Federation Council for the Sea.
