Hanoi, Feb. 7 -- Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang held phone talks with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on February 7, discussing bilateral cooperation.

Giang congratulated Hegseth on his appointment as the 29th US Secretary of Defence while reaffirming Vietnam's commitment to foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralisation, and proactive international integration, and being a friend, a reliable partner, and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam always sees the US as a leading strategic partner, he underscored, expressing his delight over the robust defence collaboration between the two countries over the past time which has expanded across multiple fields ...