The ceremony was attended by Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs General Luong Cuong, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Defense Ministers Senior Lieutenant Generals Vo Minh Luong and Hoang Xuan Chien, and Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci.
Addressing the event, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong affirmed that this was the first time the VPA has sent troops to perform search and rescue mission overseas. Despite harsh weather conditions and consequences of the earthquake, the troops overcame difficulties to wholeheartedly implement the international service in Turkey. The noble deed of the VPA was highly appreciated by the international community, and Turkish government and people.
    |
 |
|
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong addressing the event |
On behalf of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and leaders of MND, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong hailed achievements of the delegation, contributing to further promoting prestige and position of the VPA and the country. He also acknowledged efforts of press agencies in updating all activities of the delegation. The deputy defense minister took the occasion to send sincere thanks to the Turkish side for creating favorable conditions for the VPA’s delegation to fulfill their search and rescue mission in Turkey over the past time.
|
|
 |
|
Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci speaks at the ceremony. |
On the occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong sent his condolences to Ambassador Haldun Tekneci, Turkish government and people, especially earthquake-hit victims, hoping that they would soon overcome the disaster’s consequences.
According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, in 2023 and the following years, non-traditional security challenges, especially the situation of natural disasters in the world and the region, will become increasingly more complex. Therefore, the CMC, MND require units in the whole military to promote determination and training work so as to be ready in any circumstances.
|
|
 |
|
Handing over certificates of merit to 76 outstanding individuals of the VPA’s delegation |
He asked relevant units to learn from experience during the delegation’s task performance in Turkey so as to raise the quality of natural disaster prevention and control among troops in the whole military, meeting all requirements in the task of military building and national protection cause in the current context.
For his part, Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci noted that Vietnam was one of the first countries mobilizing troops to perform search and rescue in Turkey. He spoke highly of the efforts of the delegations of the Vietnamese MND and Public Security Ministry during their time in Turkey, contributing to affirming the country’s commitment in conducting the global humanitarian mission. It also deepened the Vietnam-Turkey bilateral friendship which has been developing for many years.
On this occasion, General Luong Cuong and Senior Lieutenant Generals Nguyen Tan Cuong, Vo Minh Luong and Hoang Xuan Chien presented certificates of merits to the 76 outstanding individuals of the VPA’s delegation. At the same time, representatives of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society granted certificates to the delegation’s outstanding individuals and collectives.
Translated by Minh Anh