Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien is leading a Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) which is taking place in Phnom Penh on May 17-18.
An overview of ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (Photo: VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – DeputyDefence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien is leading a Vietnamesedelegation to the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) andthe ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) which is taking place inPhnom Penh on May 17-18.
The two meetings, officially opened on May 17 morning, are being chaired by General Nem Sowat, DirectorGeneral of General Department of Policy & Foreign Affairs under theCambodian Ministry of National Defence.
Delegates are expected to hear the outcomes of the ADSOMWorking Group, the 16th annual meeting of the Network of ASEANDefence and Security Institutions; discuss the bloc’s current cooperationsituation; and consider new initiatives of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meetingto enhance collaboration substantively.
Earlier on May 16, Chien had bilateral meetings with the headsof the Cambodian and Singaporean delegations.
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (L) and General Nem Sowat, Director General of General Department of Policy & Foreign Affairs under the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence (Photo: VNA)
In the meeting with General Nem Sowat, both sides spokehighly of the two countries’ bilateral defence cooperation, particularly the successof the fifth defence policy dialogue and the first border defence friendshipexchange between Vietnam and Cambodia.
They agreed to coordinate closely in carrying out thedefence cooperation plan in 2022, and the contents reached by the two defenceministers at the recent border defence friendship exchange.
During Chien’s meeting with Chan Heng Kee, PermanentSecretary at the Singaporean Ministry of Defence, they spoke highly of the finefriendship between the two ministries, as reflected through the signing of theagreement on bilateral defence cooperation between the two ministers inFebruary./.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting of the steering committee for building a scheme to review the 10-year implementation of the Party's resolution on the national defence strategy in the new situation, in Hanoi on April 28.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 13 called on the defence ministries of Vietnam and Indonesia to bolster consultations and support each other at multilateral forums, and maintain the common stance of ASEAN on regional issues, including the East Sea.
The fifth Vietnam-Cambodia Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level was held at the Hoa Lu International Border Gate's border station in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on May 14.
Vietnam and Cambodia held the first border defence exchange in the border areas of Loc Ninh district of the former’s Binh Phuoc province and Snuol district of the latter’s Kratie province on May 15.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
An overview of ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (Photo: VNA) 
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (L) and General Nem Sowat, Director General of General Department of Policy & Foreign Affairs under the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence (Photo: VNA) 
