On the Vietnamese side, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and on the Singapore side, Mr. Chan Heng kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of National Defense will lead the side.
In his opening speech, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that 2025 will mark a new step in bilateral relations when the two countries upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam to Singapore. This is a clear demonstration of the political determination of the leaders of the two countries in enhancing cooperation in various fields, including defense cooperation.
Senior General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed ASEAN's central role in shaping and maintaining regional security structures, promoting substantive cooperation between member countries and partners. Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam persists in resolving disputes by peaceful means, based on international law and UNCLOS 1982, supporting the early completion of the COC Code of Conduct effectively and substantially.
The Senior General also highly appreciated Singapore's role in the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Mechanism (ADMM) and ADMM+, and affirmed that Vietnam will continue to actively and responsibly participate in initiatives for peace and stability in the region.
At the Dialogue, the two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges, exchanges of naval forces, air forces, and Coast Guard; promote cooperation in training, cyber security, rescue and experience sharing within the framework of ASEAN military and defense. Vietnam invites Singapore to continue sending officers to participate in Vietnamese language training courses and international defense officials at the National Defense Academy.
Speaking at the Dialogue, Mr. Heng kee thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for its warm welcome and shared his deep sympathy for Vietnam in the face of damage caused by natural disasters and floods. He affirmed that defense cooperation is a pillar in bilateral relations, Singapore is ready to coordinate and support Vietnam in agreed areas, especially the Navy, training and cyber security.
On this occasion, Vietnam respectfully invited the Singaporean Ministry of National Defense to attend the 3rd Vietnam International Defense Exhibition in 2026.
At the end of the Dialogue, the two sides signed the Defense Cooperation Plan for the 2025-2028 period and the Memorandum of Understanding on Training, and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the navels of the two countries, opening a new, more substantial and effective period of defense cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore.
