Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang holds talks with Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro, Manila, August 30, 2024. (Photo: Pham Ha/VOV-Jakarta)

During talks in Manila on Friday, visiting Defense Minister Phan Van Giang and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro pledged to cooperate to response to non-traditional security challenges and support each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms.

The two Ministers witness the signing of letters of intent between the two Defence Ministries. (Photo: Pham Ha/VOV-Jarkata)

They agreed on the importance of peace, security, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea and reiterated the stance on settling disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and fully observing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The two Ministers witnessed the signing of letters of intent between the two Defence Ministries on strengthening cooperation in humanitarian aid, maritime disaster relief, and military medicine.