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General V. Gerasimov and Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang at the reception |
During the visit, which was made at the invitation of his counterpart - Chief of the Russian General Staff, General V. Gerasimov, General Giang and his entourage will attend the closing ceremony of the International Army Games 2019.
On the morning of August 14, the official reception ceremony was held for the Vietnamese delegation at the headquarters of the Russian Ministry of Defense and immediately after that, Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang and General V. Gerasimov had talks.
Highlighting the visit by their guests as part of the activities in the Russia Year in Vietnam and the Vietnam Year in Russia, General V. Gerasimov believed that it would contribute to further enhancing the bilateral defense cooperation as an important pillar in the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.
He stressed that Vietnam is a reliable traditional friend of Russia and expressed his joy over the development of the Vietnam-Russia defense cooperation in various fields, including delegation exchange, military technical cooperation, education and training and more. The Russian general affirmed that the Russian Ministry of Defense would offer scholarships to officials of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense in the 2019-2020 academic year.
General V. Gerasimov thanked the Vietnam People’s Army for attending both the International Army Games in 2018 and 2019, the anniversary of the Russia Navy Day in 2018 and 2019 and for sending Frigate 016 - Quang Trung to visit Russia for the first time in July this year .
He also exchanged notes on international issues of mutual concern, stressing the active development of the Asia-Pacific region and the central role of ASEAN and its connection with dialogue partners. He hoped that in 2020, as the ASEAN Chair, Vietnam would provide favorable conditions for Russia to enhance its connection with ASEAN, actively and substantially contributing to peace, stability and development in the region in line with international law and UN Charter.
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General V. Gerasimov (right) and Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang (left) before the talks |
For his part, General Giang reaffirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam have always highly valued and developed the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. He stressed that Vietnam attaches special importance to cooperation with Russia in its foreign policy. As planned earlier this year, the two defense ministries have been carrying out more than 70 defense relations activities, including 12 activities as part of the Vietnam Year in Russia and Russia Year in Vietnam, which demonstrate the vigorous development of the bilateral defense cooperation in both forms and contents.
In the coming time, the two sides agreed to promote defense cooperation in the long-term, in a substantial and reliable manner in line with agreed contents, focusing on implementing effectively the Cooperation plan for defense cooperation in the 2018-2020 period and promoting the implementation of the signed cooperation documents, including the joint vision on defense cooperation in the 2019-2023 period and more.
On this occasion, General V. Geresimov extended the regards of Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu to Vietnamese Defense Minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich. Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang invited General V. Gerasimov to Vietnam and the Russian General accepted the invitation with pleasure.
The same day, the Vietnamese military delegation laid the wreath at the Victory Square in Moscow.
Translated by Huu Duong