Vietnamese, Chinese Ministers of National Defense active in China

PANO - As part of the ongoing 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun took part in various activities at China’s Youyi Guan Border Gate area on April 16 morning.

Defense leader inspects activities for 9th Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange

Ninth Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange to take place on April 16-17

Defense leader inspects preparations for 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange

Defense Ministers Phan Van Giang and Dong Jun visit Youyi Guan Border Gate.

The two ministers talk to each other during the visit.

The two ministers toured the border gate and visited the Border Company of Youyi Guan Border Gate, during which they heard reports on the unit’s tasks, functions and watched its materials and equipment.

While at the Chinese unit, having heard a virtual report on the outcomes of the exchange between the two navies at China’s Beihai city and preparations for the 38th joint patrol in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, both defense chiefs issued order for naval ships to start the join patrol. The patrol, holding practical significance, contributes to ensuring order and security at sea and promoting the traditional friendly neighborliness between the two countries and peoples.

Ministers Phan Van Giang and Dong Jun and their entourage visit the border gate.

Both defense ministers walk to the Observation Tower at the border gate.

The two defense chiefs are welcomed at Border Company of Youyi Guan Border Gate.

The two defense ministers are briefed upon the company’s operations.

Ministers Phan Van Giang and Dong Jun talk with the company’s troops.

On the occasion, the two ministers posed for a group photo with the border company’s officers and soldiers and planted a tree of friendship at its campus, sending a message of sustainable and constantly developing Vietnam-China friendship.

The next stop of the two defense ministers was the smart border gate at Youyi Guan Border Gate, a China’s model of modernizing border control affairs. They watched a clip on the smart border gate where immigration management system is automatic and digital technology and artificial intelligence are applied to monitoring, checking, and operating activities . Both ministers also visited an exhibition area on the smart border gate, and the observation tower.

Both ministers plant a tree of friendship at the company.

An overview of the visit to the smart border gate area

On June 26, 2023, Vietnam’s Lang Son province and China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region signed a framework agreement on boosting the pilot project on building smart border gates to accelerate the two sides’ practical economic-trade cooperation.

Later, General Phan Van Giang and Sr. Lt. Gen. Dong Jun visited Primary School No.4 in Pingxiang city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Teachers and students of Primary School No.4 warmly welcomes Defense Ministers Phan Van Giang and Dong Jun.

The visit to this school was a highlight of the 9th edition of the exchange, demonstrating the two defense chiefs’ special attention to the young generation, the seeds of sustainable friendship and long-term future cooperation between the two peoples.

The two ministers presented gifts to the schools. The visit was a clear message of peace, solidarity and sustainable development. Nice and emotional images at the school were landmarks messaging the ever-lasting Vietnam-China friendship.

Photos of the two ministers, delegates and students

The two defense chiefs present gifts to the school.

Students hand over gifts to the two defense ministers.

Also in Pingxiang city, both defense ministers visited Zhulian model village where they were welcomed with folk cultural performances, learnt about the village’s socio-economic situation and locals’ daily life, production activities and cultures, tasted local specialties and exchanged with local people.

The two ministers welcomed at Zhulian village

The visit to the village was humanistic, helping promote the bilateral defense ties coupled with people-to-people exchange – the firm foundation to build Vietnam-China border of peace, stability, friendship and cooperation.