China and Vietnam Reaffirm Defense Cooperation at Beijing Xiangshan Forum

Zhang Shengmin, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phan Van Giang in Beijing on September 16 on the sidelines of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. According to Chinese official media reports, the two defense chiefs pledged to implement the strategic consensus reached by their top party and state leaders. Zhang emphasized practical military cooperation and timely coordination on key security issues, while Phan reaffirmed that developing relations with China remains a top priority and strategic choice for Vietnamese diplomacy.

Against the backdrop of evolving regional security dynamics, senior military engagement between Beijing and Hanoi serves as a stabilizing mechanism. Reaffirming mutual trust and sustaining operational dialogue help manage potential friction in the surrounding maritime and border areas.

Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin met in Beijing with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang on September 16, according to official reports from Xinhua and China Military Online. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. During the discussions, Zhang highlighted the traditional socialist ties between the two countries, describing China and Vietnam as 'comrades and brothers.' He referenced the strategic guidance provided by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, alongside To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese president, which elevated bilateral ties toward a community with a shared future. Zhang emphasized that both defense establishments should translate top-level political consensus into concrete action. He urged the two armed forces to plan and advance practical defense cooperation from a strategic and long-term perspective, share experience in military modernization, coordinate positions promptly on significant security matters, and collectively respond to global challenges. Zhang also pointed to the successful inaugural ministerial meeting of the '3+3' strategic dialogue mechanism—which integrates foreign affairs, national defense, and public security—noting its vital role in consolidating political mutual trust, integrating cross-sector cooperation, and maintaining political security. According to the state media accounts, Phan congratulated China on hosting the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and expressed gratitude for China's historical support toward Vietnam's national independence, unification, and socialist construction. Phan stated that fostering relations with China remains an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnamese foreign policy. He affirmed Hanoi's willingness to follow the strategic direction set by both nations' top leaders to pursue more pragmatic and effective defense and security cooperation.