Vietnam, China to boost defense cooperation

At the meeting, General Lich underlined that Vietnam always gives top priority to boosting relations with neighboring countries, especially China. The bilateral relationship of the two countries, which is the priceless treasure created and fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong, has been growing strongly over the past time. The Party, the Government, the people and the Vietnamese Army always respected the great and valuable support from the Party, Government, people and the People's Liberation Army of China during the struggle for national liberation and reunification.

At the meeting

The traditional friendly relationship between Vietnam and China has been a great strategic significance for both countries as well as for peace, stability and development in the region. Developing the long-lasting good traditional friendship with China has always been the consistent policy and top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy, he added.

General Lich confirmed that over the past years, the bilateral defense relations of the two countries have been one of the pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two parties and the two Governments. In addition, the two armies have exchanged delegations at all levels, including young officer delegation exchanges, joint patrols, education and training.

Gen. Lich (R) and Lieutenant General Xiao Tianliang

On behalf of the delegation, General Xiao Tianliang thanked the host for a warm welcome and stressed that the visit to Vietnam aims to study and exchange experiences in training, education, army building, as well as Party and political work of the Vietnamese military, thus contributing to deepening bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries in an effective manner. The Chinese General also informed General Lich about the results of his delegation's working session with the Vietnam's National Defense Academy. Accordingly, the two sides exchanged specific measures to build cooperation frameworks and mechanisms in the coming time.

Highly appreciating the results of the meeting, General Lich expressed his hope that the two armies in general and the two defense academies in particular will continue to cooperate in the fields that both have strengths such as exchanging delegations at all levels, researching cooperation in military theory and organizing training courses for high-ranking officials, as well as promoting the defense cooperation in line with the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the rest of the world.

Translated by Lam Anh