PANO - "The defense relationship between Vietnam and China holds special importance to the development of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, and at the same time serves as one of the important pillars in the relationship between the two parties, the two states and the two peoples." This was stated by Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phung Quang Thanh at a press conference concluding the 3rd Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange on March 30th in Pingxiang town, Guangxi province, China.

Strengthening cooperation and exchange between the two armies

Previously, a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnam Ministry of National Defense, led by its Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh, left for Pingxiang town, Guangxi province to take part in activities of the 3rd Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange. Defense Minister of China, Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan, and a high-ranking defense delegation and locals welcomed the Vietnamese guests at the “Huu nghi” (Friendship) border gate.

The two delegation at the dialogue to review the outcomes of the 3rd Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange

After the welcoming ceremony, the two defense ministers witnessed a border marker salute at Border marker 1117 and reviewed the joint patrol activities of the two countries' border forces.

During the visit, the Vietnamese defense minister and his entourage saw performances on combat training, martial arts, anti-terrorist operations, and a live-fire shooting exercise implemented by troops from Regiment 3 of the Guangxi provincial border guards. The Vietnamese guests praised participating troops for their spectacular performances and hoped that the Guangxi provincial border guards would intensify cooperation and share experience with the Vietnam border guards, contributing to building a good relationship between the two border forces in particular and the two armies in general, as well as cultivating the long-standing good friendship between Vietnam and China.

The Vietnamese defense minister and his entourage also visited Company 13 of Battalion 4 of Regiment 3 under the Pingxiang town's border guards and planting souvenir trees in the unit.

Building a joint border of peace, friendship and sustainable development

On the afternoon of March 30th, the two delegations co-held a dialogue to review the outcomes of the 3rd Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange. At the event, all delegates showed their high determination for building a joint border of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development. They highly valued and described the outcomes of the exchange as typical and meaningful activities of the two peoples and two border guard forces, contributing to promoting a warm sentiment between the two countries and their people.

 Two defense ministers speaking at the reviewing ceremony

Besides, they also exchanged experience on border management and protection as well as crime prevention in the shared border areas. Meanwhile, China's local leaders showed their hope to support and collaborate with both sides' armies in educating troops and people along the borderline to follow regulations and agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders.

For further cooperation, the two ministers agreed to continue promoting exchange and twinning activities among the two sides' military and public security units as well as enhancing collaboration to closely manage the border areas.

Later on, at a press conference, the host stressed that the success of the exchange proved the effective implementation of the directions of the two sides' senior leaders.

For his part, the guest proposed that the two armies should regularly hold information exchanges and joint border patrol missions to punctually deal with unexpected issues and fight against crime in the shared border areas.

To solve divergent opinions, the two high-ranking officers added that the two sides should promote further cooperation among people in all walks of life and seriously implement the agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders, contributing to settling East Sea-related issues by peaceful means and in strict observation of international law.

At the end of the conference, the two defense ministers highlighted the success of the 3rd Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange again, and agreed to hold the 4th event at a convenient time next year.

Translated by Trung Thanh

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