(Bqp.vn) - Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang held talks with Vice Chairman of the Chinese CMC Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia on October 24 in Hanoi.
General Phan Van Giang (L) welcoming Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia.
At the welcome ceremony.
General Phan Van Giang and Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia inspecting the Guards of Honor of the Vietnam People’s Army.
General Phan Van Giang introducing members of the Vietnamese delegation to Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia.
Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia introducing members of the Chinese delegation to General Phan Van Giang.
The two sides in a joint photo.
The talks took place right after a welcome ceremony hosted by General Phan Van Giang for Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia.
General Phan Van Giang and Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia.
At the talks.
At the talks, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that together with friendship visits by senior leaders of the two parties, states, and militaries, the visit by Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia is a vivid manifestation of the increasingly close relationship and increasingly strong political trust between the two parties, states and militaries. He believed that the visit would be a great success, helping implement the common perception and strategic direction of the two countries’ senior leaders, creating a new step of development for the cooperative ties between the two militaries.
General Phan Van Giang speaking at the talks.
He confirmed that Vietnam always considers developing the friendship and cooperative ties with China an obvious and objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy. Vietnam always treasures and bears in mind the wholehearted support from the Party, Government, military and people of China in the past struggle for national independence and in the current socialism building cause and national development. He emphasized that the two sides stand side by side to persevere on the path to socialism in accordance with each country’s situation.
On the basis of the flourishing relations between the two parties and countries, the bilateral defence ties are always defined as one of the important pillars and have been constantly expanded, increasingly deepened and becoming more practical, positively contributing to realizing common perception of the two countries’ senior leaders.
General Phan Van Giang highlighted the strengthened land border cooperation as a truly highlight, directly contributing to building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. He also emphasized the cooperation between the two navies, coast guard forces, military schools and academies, in education-training, strategic research, and U.N. peacekeeping operations as well as the close coordination, consultation and mutual support at regional and international multilateral forums and defence cooperation mechanisms.
Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam for the first time and witnessing the achievements that Vietnam has obtained in the cause of socialism building and national development.
Affirming that the Vietnam - China relationship is special, Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia said that the bilateral defence relations have been developing more intensively, effectively, practically and firmly.
Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia speaking at the talks.
General Phan Van Giang suggested the two sides continue to promote the pivotal role of the military in the general relationship of the two countries and enhance cooperation in such fields as high-level contacts, cooperation mechanisms such as border defence friendship exchange, hotline between the two defence ministries, navies, etc. He also suggested enhancing cooperation in Party, political work and exchanges of young officers, promoting collaboration in defence industry and military trade; expanding cooperation in personnel training, scholar exchange, logistics, military medicine, U.N. peacekeeping operations, response to non-traditional security challenges.
General Phan Van Giang emphasized Vietnam’s consistent viewpoint of resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and Vietnam’s willing to negotiate to soon agree and sign a legally-abiding, substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is beneficial to the parties concerned.
He expressed his wish to welcome the leaders of the Chinese Ministry of National Defence to attend celebration activities marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo this December.
General Phan Van Giang and Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia witnessing the signing of cooperation documents between the two defence ministries.
At the end of the talks, General Phan Van Giang and Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Youxia witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two defence ministries, including the letter of intent on strengthening defence cooperation and the agreement on border cooperation.
