The Vietnamese high-ranking military mission was joined by Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Nguyen Hai Bang.
Welcoming General Giang and his entourage to Thailand, General Wongsuwan underlined that the visit would contribute to consolidating and developing the bilateral strategic partnership.
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Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang and General Prawit Wongsuwan |
General Wongsuwan held that over the past years, the bilateral relations in general and their defense cooperation in particular have been strengthened. As Thailand will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship next year, General Wongsuwan hoped to officially visit Vietnam to discuss their issues of mutual concern.
For his part, General Giang thanked the Thai general for his warm reception and extended the invitation of General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defense Minister to General Wongsuwan to visit Vietnam.
General Giang applauded the important role of Thailand in maintaining the solidarity and cooperation within ASEAN, believed that the country would successfully fulfill its ASEAN 2019 Chairmanship, and hoped that Thailand would share experience with Vietnam as its successor in 2020.
The VPA’s Chief of General Staff emphasized that defense cooperation is a major pillar in the Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership while urging General Wongsuwan in his capacity to continue pay due attention and create favorable conditions for the two sides to further the bilateral defense ties.
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Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang and General Ponpipaat Benyasri reviewing Thai guards-of- honor |
After that, General Giang and the Vietnamese high-ranking military mission were officially received by General Ponpipaat Benyasri, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces at a solemn ceremony.
At their talks, the two generals agreed to expand their defense cooperation in fields of delegation exchange, education and training, and cooperation in the Navy and Air Force, while actively discussing their potential cooperation sectors in order to deepen the bilateral ties in the future.
During his stay in Thailand, General Giang visited the Counter-Terrorist Operations Center of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and met with the Vietnamese Defense Attaché in Bangkok.
Translated by Van Hieu