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General Phan Van Giang (right) receives Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Yurievich Krivoruchko.

At the reception, General Giang highlighted the time-honored friendship between the two countries and emphasized that Vietnam always attaches much importance to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and considers it a top priority in the country’s foreign policy. 

The Vietnamese defense minister said that over the past time, leaders of the two countries have paid attention to fostering defense cooperation, thus creating a momentum to expand the bilateral cooperation in other fields. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two defense ministries have actively supported each other in their pandemic fight.

General Phan Van Giang also took the occasion to thank Russia for assisting Vietnam in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. He also highlighted the outcomes of bilateral defense ties over the past time, especially in delegation exchanges, training, cooperation among units and support at regional mechanisms and forums. General Giang reaffirmed that Vietnam will support Russia’s hosting of the Army Games and actively participate in the event to strengthen friendship and defense cooperation with participating countries.

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The two defense leaders visit the weaponry and military equipment exhibition area held in the framework of the Army Games in Vietnam.

For his part, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Yurievich Krivoruchko congratulated the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) on successfully hosting the “Sniper Frontier” and “Emergency Area” contests within the Army Games 2021 and hoped that the VPA will continue supporting and participating in the Army Games 2022. 

After the reception, the Vietnamese defense minister and Russian deputy defense minister toured the Cultural Space, the Weaponry and Military Equipment Exhibition Area, and sidelines activities of the Army Games, before attending the closing ceremony.

Translated by Tran Hoai