PANO - Vietnamese Minister of National Defence, General Phung Quang Thanh, paid an official visit to Poland from August 11th to 18th at the invitation of Polish Defence Minister, Tomasz Siemoniak.

Vietnamese Minister Phung Quang Thanh and his Polish counterpart inspect the honour guard of the Polish Armed Forces

After the solemn welcome ceremony on August 12th in Warsaw, the two defence ministers held talks, with the participation of high-ranking officers from the two armies.

The Vietnamese general thanked the Polish people and army for their support for Vietnam in its war to gain independence.

Minister Phung Quang Thanh held that Poland has a strategic status in Vietnam’s foreign policy and Vietnam attaches special importance to developing a comprehensive partnership with Poland, including defence cooperation, in the new period.

From their good political relations, Minister Phung Quang Thanh held that the two countries should continue to deepen their defence relations for mutual interests, including the exchange of delegations; establishing a defence policy dialogue at the deputy-ministerial level; exchange of training; information sharing; research cooperation; and cooperation in the defence industry.

General Phung Quang Thanh stressed that this official visit to Poland of the Vietnamese military high-ranking delegation reflects the country’s policy of deep and broad international integration into the international community in general and strengthening the traditional friendship for the mutual interests of the two countries in particular.

Minister Phung Quang Thanh visits the 16th Parachute Battalion under the 6th Air Force Brigade of the Polish Armed Forces

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak stressed that Vietnam plays an important role in maintaining political stability in Southeast Asia and expressed that the country attaches importance to its relations with Vietnam. He also highly appreciated Vietnam and the Vietnamese community in Poland.

The Polish minister supported the settlement of disputes through peaceful means and international laws, and highly valued Vietnam’s announcement to join United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak affirmed that Poland is Vietnam’s traditional friend and that the country wants to become Vietnam’s strategic partner.

The minister held that strengthening defence cooperation would boost the two countries’ relations. Therefore, the Polish Ministry of National Defence will actively cooperate with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in exchanges of experiences and training.

Translated by Ngoc Hung