Hanoi, July 31, 2025 – The Europe Today: General Phan Văn Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, hosted an official welcome ceremony for Indonesian Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Hanoi on Wednesday.
The event marked a key moment in bilateral relations as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding defence cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework established in March 2025 during the State visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm to Indonesia.
During their talks, General Giang underscored the close geographical and strategic ties between Việt Nam and Indonesia, noting that the two nations share a maritime border and are active, responsible members of the ASEAN Community.
He emphasized that the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was a historic milestone that opened a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of politics, defence, and security—identified as key pillars of the relationship.
General Giang highlighted significant achievements in recent years, including regular high-level delegation exchanges, robust cooperation between military services and maritime law enforcement agencies, enhanced collaboration in UN peacekeeping operations, and strengthened links between defence research institutions.
He noted the two countries’ continued mutual support and consultation in multilateral forums, particularly within ASEAN-led mechanisms, and praised Indonesia for its successful organisation of the 10th Indonesia International Defence Expo in June 2025. He also thanked Indonesia for its active participation in the Việt Nam International Defence Expo 2024.
Looking ahead, General Giang proposed intensifying high-level engagements, optimising existing cooperation mechanisms, and promoting practical, comprehensive, and trustworthy collaboration.
In response, Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin hailed the trusted and evolving nature of bilateral defence cooperation and affirmed that his visit signified an important milestone in Indonesia–Việt Nam relations. He expressed Indonesia’s readiness to further deepen defence ties in alignment with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and suggested advancing joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest.
The two ministers also exchanged views on international and regional security developments. General Giang reiterated Việt Nam’s consistent policy of resolving disputes in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) by peaceful means and in accordance with international law.
The visit by Minister Sjamsoeddin underscores the strong momentum in Việt Nam–Indonesia relations, especially in defence, and reflects the shared commitment to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region.
