Top officials from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) have affirmed the growing strategic partnership between the two countries during a visit by JGSDF Chief of Staff General Yoshihide Yoshida to Hanoi, where he was received by VPA Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of Defence General Nguyen Tan Cuong.
“Vietnam always values the development of extensive strategic partnership with Japan in which bilateral defence cooperation has made solid progress,” General Cuong was quoted as saying on 13 February.
In particular, Gen Cuong noted that Vietnam was especially appreciative of Japan’s cooperation and support in education and training, capacity building, and the latter’s support in preparations for Vietnam’s participation in United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Between December 2021 and January 2022, 27 JGSDF officers from Indo-Pacific Regional Policy Division of the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD), JGSDF Central Transportation Command, Ground Component Command’s Central Readiness Regiment, and International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit provided training and logistical support for the 100-strong VPA contingent that had been preparing for UNISFA.
The VPA had earlier dispatched a high-level delegation led by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Nghia to Tokyo in May 2022, where he was received by Gen Yoshida.
During the latest talks, Gen Cuong and Gen Yoshida promised to continue exploring new areas of cooperation and boosting ties between the two defence forces. According to reports, some of these comprise potential collaboration in international peacekeeping missions, military medicine, cyber security, training, as well as search and rescue.
Japan’s strategic interest in Vietnam was also demonstrated by the considerable presence of Japanese industry – led by the Japanese MoD’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) – at the inaugural Vietnam Defense 2022 exhibition in Hanoi.
by Jr Ng
