Minister of Defence Phan Văn Giang introduces to Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on the S-125 missile system during Việt Nam's International Defence Expo that opened on Thursday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — The first edition of Việt Nam's International Defence Expo opened on Thursday morning at Gia Lâm Airport in the capital city of Hà Nội.

The expo, lasting from December 8 to 10, covering an area of over 50,000sq.m, including more than 20,000sq.m of outdoor area, will be attended by 170 defence units and enterprises from 30 countries in the ASEAN region, Asia, Europe and America.

They will display their best combat vehicles, technological solutions, weapons and equipment for different types of armed forces from navy, army, air-to-air defence, cyber warfare to logistical and technical equipment.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attended the opening ceremony, and said the exhibition with the participation of foreign partners "stands as a symbol for trust, friendship, cooperation and development, and represents affection of international friends for the country, its people and the heroic Việt Nam People's Army who always show sincerity and responsibility to international friends."

Aside from the major trend of peace, cooperation and development, the PM noted that "we are witnessing an increasing number of evermore acute traditional and non-traditional security challenges, and there is a strong need to promote multilateralism and solidarity, close coordination among nations based on justice, reason, and international law."

The strengthening and expanding of international cooperation and diplomacy in defence, and building trust among countries in the world play a very important and decisive role, he said.

The Government leader highlighted that Việt Nam consistently follows the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation; being a good friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community; cooperation for peace, development, equality and mutual benefit; compliance with the Charter of the United Nations; respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and principles of non-interference in each other's internal affairs; and contributing to the cause of peace, national independence, democracy and social progress all over the world.

Việt Nam's defence policy is "peace, self-defence and for the people," PM Chính said.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính views the Vietnamese army's defence products. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

​"The heroic Việt Nam People's Army is actively participating in appropriate forms of defence cooperation , bilaterally and multilaterally, with countries around the world.

"Defence industry cooperation, and especially the 2022 International Defence Expo, will open up opportunities for cooperation, research and studies on development trends of technical equipment, defence industry and security in the world, diversification of procurement channels, receiving and transferring foreign technologies, and producing, equipping and supplying equipment and logistics to the armed forces of other countries to serve the needs of national defence and protect the people from traditional and non-traditional threats."

Following the opening ceremony, PM Chính and delegates visited booths displaying defence industry products, the Việt Nam cultural space and an area showcasing the country's economy-defence achievements.

PM Chính views a military product on display at the exhibition. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

According to Major General Lê Xuân Sang, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training (General Department of Politics of the People's Army), the purpose of the exhibition is not only to introduce and promote the achievements of the defence industry, but also to introduce to international friends the image of Việt Nam, Vietnamese people and culture.

At the opening ceremony, the Vietnamese air force has conducted an air demonstration with its squadron of Mi military helicopters and fighter aircrafts Su-30MK2 at low altitude over Hà Nội.

The expo is also open for the public from 2-6pm on December 9-10. — VNS

VNA/VNS Photos Lâm Khánh

Mi helicopters carrying Vietnamese flags and a flag of the defence exhibition.

Su-30MK2 in a sky manuouvers.

The squadron of Su-30MK2 over Hà Nội.

Su-30MK2 formation.