At the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Lai Thai Binh informed Gen. Giang and his entourage about the embassy’s task performance outcomes gained over the past time and the living condition of the Vietnamese community in the Philippines.
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General Phan Van Giang (L) speaks at the meeting. |
Gen. Giang highly appreciated the embassy’s contribution and the ambassador’s role in promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries in general and the bilateral defense cooperation in particular. He expressed his belief that the Embassy’s staff would stay united, exert efforts to complete missions assigned by the Party and State and make more contribution to strengthening Vietnam - the Philippines relations.
Regarding his official visit to the Philippines, the defense minister underlined that it takes place in the context that the two countries’ relationship is constantly developing in various fields, including defense cooperation, which is more practical and effective and expanded in scope to suit the two countries’ concern in the new period.
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Gen. Giang, the Vietnamese delegation, and the embassy staff in a group photo |
Minister Giang stressed that the visit aims to boost the cooperative ties, mutual understanding and orient the acceleration of the effective and practical collaboration between the two ministries, thereby strengthening political trust between Vietnam and the Philippines.
Gen. Giang hoped to receive further support from the embassy to develop the bilateral defense relations in an effective and practical fashion.
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Gen. Giang offers flowers to President Ho Chi Minh at his monument. |
Earlier the same day, Gen. Giang and his entourage offered flowers to President Ho Chi Minh at his monument in ASEAN Park.
The monument was built in 2011 to celebrate the President’s 121st birth anniversary and mark the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Philippines. It was inaugurated on October 27, 2011 on the occasion of the State visit to the Philippines of then State President Truong Tan Sang.
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Gen. Giang and his entourage pay tribute to Philippine national hero José Rizal. |
Gen. Giang and the Vietnamese delegation also laid a wreath at Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Manila. The monument is dedicated to Philippine national hero José Rizal.
Thu Trang from Manila, the Philippines
Translated by Mai Huong