Courtesy Call on H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam by Defense Minister Koizumi

(Press Release)

May 29, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan

In Japanese

On May 29, 2026, while visiting Singapore to attend the 23rd IISS Asia Security Summit (the Shangri-La Dialogue), Minister of Defense Koizumi paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

  1. At the outset, Minister Koizumi extended his congratulations on the inauguration of Viet Nam’s new leadership. He stated that, based on the direction agreed upon at the summit meeting in May, he intends to work together with Minister of National Defence Giang to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, as well as to advance cooperation in the defense field toward the realization and evolution of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
  2. Minister Koizumi and General Secretary and President To Lam welcomed the active people-to-people exchanges, including high-level exchanges and acceptance of Vietnamese cadets at the National Defense Academy and other institutions. They confirmed that these people-to-people ties at various levels are vital as an important foundation for the robust relationship between the two countries.
  3. Minister Koizumi explained his emphasis on cooperation particularly in the field of maritime security, and outlined Japan’s consistent policy of contributing to peace and stability in the region and the international community in light of the recent revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology. Both Minister Koizumi and General Secretary and President To Lam concurred on further strengthening defense cooperation between Japan and Viet Nam, including in the area of defense equipment and technology cooperation.
  4. In addition, following this courtesy call, Minister Koizumi and Minister Giang concurred that, under their leadership, concrete discussions on equipment transfer would be advanced with a sense of urgency through a working group at the director level, and that the outcomes would be reported to both leaders.

Courtesy Call on H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam by Defense Minister Koizumi.pdf