General Phan Van Giang meets his Chinese counterpart

(Bqp.vn) - Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang had a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun on August 20, on the occasion of the state visit by Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse to China.

General Phan Van Giang (L) and Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun.

Speaking at the meeting, General Phan Van Giang stressed that the top Vietnamese leader’s visit to China, his first foreign trip after being elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, reflects Vietnam’s high priority on developing friendly cooperative relations with China in its foreign policy. He expressed his belief that the visit would contribute to advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries into a new phase of development with effectiveness and durability, and further strengthening their comradely and brotherly ties.

The two defence ministers at the meeting.

According to General Phan Van Giang, the relationship between the two Parties and countries has maintained positive momentum through the high-level visits of historic significance by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in December 2023. Through the visits, the two Parties and countries have reached many important common perceptions for bilateral relations, elevated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and built a Vietnam - China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance with six major directions indicating higher levels of cooperation, including “more substantive defence and security cooperation”.

General Phan Van Giang highlighted that over the past time, the Vietnam - China defence cooperation has been promoted by both sides and increasingly deepened, for examples, the 8th Vietnam - China border defence friendship exchange in April 2024; the exchange of delegations at all levels; education and training cooperation; cooperation among maritime forces, cooperation in border management, etc.

General Phan Van Giang speaking at the meeting.

In the coming time, the Central Military Commission and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence hope to continue enhancing and expanding the areas of cooperation that the two sides have been implementing, while studying the expansion of cooperation to new potential areas of mutual interest, especially in defence industry, education and training, Party and political works, General Phan Van Giang added.

For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun said the Vietnamese top leader’s visit offers an opportunity for the armed forces of the two nations to further boost their relations in a more substantive and effective manner.

Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun speaking at the meeting.

He emphasized that expanding military cooperation between the two countries in various aspects holds significant strategic importance, and is crucial for ensuring the Vietnam - China community with a shared future.

He suggested that the two armed forces should firmly stand side by side, continue to enhance cooperation in Party and political work, strengthen cooperation in the management of both land and maritime borders, and consolidate a solid foundation for the development of both countries.

Delegates at the event.

Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun stressed that China and Vietnam are comrades, partners and long-time friends. It is necessary to further foster substantive cooperation between the two armies in all fields for the harmony, prosperity, and happiness of the two peoples.

Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun presenting a souvenir to General Phan Van Giang.

General Phan Van Giang took the occasion to invite leaders of the Central Military Commission, the Minister, and leaders of the Ministry of National Defence of China to attend the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo in December 2024.