MND leader receives Indian ambassador and defense attachés

At the meeting between Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and outgoing Indian Ambassador Pranay Verma

At the reception, General Chien affirmed that Vietnam always attaches much importance to the traditional friendship between the two countries and militaries, stressing that India is a close and trustworthy friend of Vietnam. The bilateral defense ties between the two countries have been increasingly expanded in a more effective and practical manner, he added.

The Vietnamese defense leader thanked the Indian Government for providing training courses for hundreds of officers of the Vietnam People’s Army, giving non-refundable packages and financial aids to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense. He spoke highly of efforts and contributions of the Indian Ambassador to accelerating the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. He hoped that the ambassador, in his new post, will actively contribute to tightening the relationship between the two countries and two militaries.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien presents a souvenir to outgoing Indian Ambassador Pranay Verma.

In turn, Ambassador Pranay Verma thanked the Vietnamese defense leader for a warm reception and reminded that the bilateral defense ties as a bright spot of the two sides’ relations, which contributed to developing the comprehensive strategic partnership of the two countries, during his term of office. The two sides have signed a Joint Vision Statement on Vietnam-India Defense Partnership towards 2030 on the occasion of the Indian Defense Minister’s official visit to Vietnam. This is an important basis for the enhancement of cooperation in the time to come, he stressed.

At the reception for outgoing and newly-appointed Indian defense attachés to Vietnam, General Chien expressed his thanks to Colonel Varadan Kumar and highly valued his contribution  in accelerating the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the two militaries during his tenure.

The defense leader held that the bilateral defense cooperation has been increasingly expanded with significant outcomes. The two sides have effectively implemented the signed documents and agreed to sign new cooperative deals, including the Joint Vision Statement on Vietnam-India Defense Partnership towards 2030. They have maintained delegation exchanges, enhanced personnel training cooperation, and effectively deployed supporting packages of the Indian Government for the MND of Vietnam.

Delegates posing for a joint photo

Welcoming newly-appointed Defense Attaché Colonel Dheeraj Kotwal, General Chien affirmed that the MND of Vietnam will create all favorable conditions to help the Indian officer fulfill his tasks in the time to come.

Translated by Trung Thanh