Minister of National Defence Phan Văn Giang and his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov reviewed the guard of honour at the welcome ceremony for the visitor in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam attaches importance to consolidating and strengthening its traditional friendship with Azerbaijan, a relationship nurtured by generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries.

That was the message from Defence Minister Phan Văn Giang as he hosted a welcome ceremony and talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov in Hà Nội on Thursday afternoon. 

The Azerbaijani minister is on a visit to Việt Nam to attend the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2. 

During the talks, the Vietnamese defence minister noted that the monument honouring Soviet military experts, including Azerbaijanis, at the Việt Nam Military History Museum, reflected the gratitude of the Party, State, military, and people of Việt Nam towards Azerbaijan’s valuable support during Việt Nam’s wars.

This had also contributed to nurturing the traditional friendship between the two countries and their armed forces.

Particularly, during the state visit of Party General Secretary Tô Lâm to Azerbaijan in May 2025, the two countries officially established a strategic partnership, laying a foundation for further expanding defence cooperation between Việt Nam and Azerbaijan.

Giang also noted that Việt Nam remained consistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, as well as diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. 

The country would also adhere to its 'four no’s' defence policy: no partaking in military alliances, no siding with one country to act against another, no foreign military bases in the Vietnamese territory or using Việt Nam as leverage to counteract other countries and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations.

Việt Nam would maintain its stance on resolving all disputes and differences through peaceful means in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea [known internationally as the South China Sea](DOC), and support the early adoption of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) consistent with international law.

Both Vietnamese and Azerbaijani officials agreed that bilateral defence cooperation in recent years had been actively promoted in line with state-level relations, with notable progress in areas such as delegation exchanges, defence industry, humanitarian mine clearance and participation in each other’s multilateral events. 

Moving forward on the basis of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defence cooperation signed during Party chief Tô Lâm’s visit to Azerbaijan in May, Giang proposed that the two sides enhance exchanges, promote training cooperation, and facilitate partnerships between the two countries’ defence enterprises. They should also explore collaboration opportunities in other fields of mutual strengths and interest, said Giang.

The Vietnamese defence minister also suggested establishing defence attaché offices in each country to further promote cooperation in this aspect. 

Việt Nam is ready to welcome Azerbaijani military cadets for Vietnamese language studies at the Military Science Academy and to attend international defence officer programmes at the Việt Nam National Defence Academy.

Hasanov said he was pleased to witness the positive development of bilateral relations, especially since the visit of Việt Nam’s Party chief Tô Lâm.

Noting the significant potential for cooperation between the two countries, he suggested the two sides actively promote bilateral activities in defence, making practical and effective contributions to the Việt Nam-Azerbaijan ties.

Following official talks, they signed a Letter of Intent between the two defence ministries on cooperation in military personnel training. — VNS