A solemn welcome ceremony for Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation was held at Hekou Border Gate of China under the chair of Chinese Defense Minister Three-star General Dong Jun. At the event, the two defense ministers saluted the sovereignty marker, and Three-star General Dong Jun painted sovereignty marker 102 to the Chinese side. They also witnessed a joint patrol session of the border guard forces of the two sides.

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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation salute the sovereignty marker at the Lao Cai International Border Gate before heading to China for activities within the exchange.
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Gen. Giang and the Vietnamese delegation at sovereignty marker 102

Earlier on April 11, various activities within the eighth edition of the exchange were held in Lao Cai province. After the welcome ceremony for the Chinese delegation, the two defense ministers saluted sovereignty marker 102, and Gen. Giang painted the sovereignty marker to the Vietnamese side. They planted a friendship tree at Lao Cai International Border Gate; attended the inaugural ceremony of the Vietnam-China friendship cultural house; visited and presented gifts to Kim Dong Primary School in Lao Cai city, visited the Border Post of Lao Cai International Border Gate. 

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Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun chairs the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese counterpart and delegation at Hekou Border Gate.

During the talks held after that, the Vietnamese Defense Minister affirmed the significance of the exchange which has contributed to strengthening political trust and mutual understanding and fostering the relations between the two peoples, among localities of the two sides, and two defense ministries to build a borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation, and development.

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The two defense ministers at sovereignty marker 102
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Three-star General Dong Jun paints the sovereignty marker.
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The two defense leaders shake hands with troops of the two countries conducting a joint patrol.

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The two sides in a joint photo

The two sides affirmed that the exchange has become an effective and special cooperation model, demonstrating the two sides’ political determination in strengthening friendship and closeness between the two peoples, local authorities, and defense ministries to build a borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation, and development.

Translated by Tran Hoai