At the reception (Photo: Anh Huyen/VOV5)

Minister Giang applauded the positive development in the Vietnam-France relations, especially the upgrade of their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the official visit to France by the Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in October 2024.

Highlighting the great potential for stronger bilateral defense cooperation, Mr. Giang suggested that in the near future, the two sides continue to effectively implement the cooperation orientations based on the Protocol signed earlier the same day, the joint perceptions of the two countries' senior leaders, and the annual cooperation program.

The Vietnamese minister said both sides should focus on high-level exchanges, strategic dialogue mechanisms, cooperation in military medicine, hydro-meteorology, training, historical memories, search for missing soldiers in the war, exchange of memorabilia, search and rescue, maritime security, peacekeeping, and border defense while increasing mutual support at regional and global forums.

Expressing his delight at visiting Vietnam for the second time, Minister Lecornu emphasized that the meeting with the Vietnamese minister was an important sign of the positive development in the relationship between the two countries. He said Vietnam and France share the desire for peace, respect for international law and mutual respect.

Recalling the cooperation contents just agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders during the state visit to Vietnam by President Macron, Mr. Lecornu said that he hopes that the two sides will actively promote cooperation in defense, thereby continuing to make more substantial and effective contributions to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.