It was part of the ongoing eighth Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange.
Gen. Giang confirmed the important meaning of the exchange, saying that it helps boost political trust, mutual understanding, tighten solidarity and close-knit ties between the people, authorities of the host localities and between the two defense ministries, contributing to building the Vietnam-China borderline of peace, friendship, solidarity, cooperation and development. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the organization of such a meaningful exchange.
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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang (right) and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun |
The Vietnamese defense chief emphasized that the Party, government, military and people of Vietnam always treasure the great contribution and support of the Chinese counterparts to the country’s struggle for national salvation and national reunification as well as current national construction, particularly in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. He stressed that Vietnam is always consistent with its view of attaching importance to building solidarity, friendship, long-term stability, firm trust, and comprehensive cooperation with China.
Minister Giang laid stress on Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development and steadfastness in the “Four No's” defense policy.
Regarding the sea-related issues, the Vietnamese minister said that they should be solved by peaceful means through negotiations, complying with the common perception of senior leaders of the two countries, for peace and stability at sea.
Minister Giang stressed that Vietnam supports China’s global initiatives and cooperation mechanisms for the common good of all humanity, peace and progress of people in the world, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.
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Gen. Giang (second from right, first line) and the Vietnamese delegation at the talks |
He invited his Chinese counterpart and other leaders of the Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense and defense industry enterprises of China to participate in the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defense Expo.
For his part, Minister Dong Jun expressed his delight at co-chairing the eighth Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange. He said that it is the first time he has taken part in this meaningful and friendly event as defense minister. He added that the exchange confirmed the friendship, comradeship, brotherhood between the two parties, states, militaries and people of the two countries.
On the occasion, he conveyed the regards of He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China to Minister Giang and expressed thanks to the Vietnamese minister and delegation for the solemn reception.
He highly appreciated the preparation and organization of exchanges between the militaries and functional agencies of the two countries and underlined that this eighth edition helped realize the common perception reached by the two countries’ senior leaders and that the two militaries have carried out a number of practical and effective activities.
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Minister Dong Jun (second from left) and the Chinese delegation at the event |
At the talks, the two sides agreed that the bilateral defense ties have reaped positive outcomes in such areas as delegation exchange, especially high-level one, maintenance of defense strategic dialogue mechanism, training cooperation, Party and political work and border management and protection.
Regarding the cooperation in border management and protection, the two sides stressed that the work was implemented actively and effectively, contributing to maintaining border and border marker system, and political security and social order and safety in border areas. In addition, the two sides’ border protection forces have seriously observed three legal border documents, dealt with violations in a timely manner, and organized meetings, talks, and bilateral patrols as well as promoted efficiency of the hotline and boosted twinning activities.
The two sides said that the Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange has been held eighth times over the past ten years, becoming an effective and typical cooperation model and demonstrating political determination of both sides in strengthening friendship, solidarity, close ties between the people, local authorities, and defense ministries of the two countries and jointly building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.
About the cooperation in the time ahead, the two sides were unanimous in actualizing the two countries’ joint statement on enhancing more practical defense-security cooperation, enhancing delegation exchange, promoting efficiency of annual cooperation mechanisms, such as defense strategic dialogue, border defense friendship exchange, joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin between the two navies, and bolster cooperation in training, Party and political work, defense industry, military trade, strategic research, U.N. peacekeeping, logistics and military medicines.
At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding between the two defense ministries on establishing a hotline between the Naval Service of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China.
Translated by Mai Huong