Vietnam, China bolster defence cooperation

A high-ranking military delegation of Vietnam led by Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh is paying a working visit to China from February 19 to 22 (Photo: VNA)

During the visit, the Vietnamese official paid a courtesy visit to Chinese Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Wei Fenghe. He also held talks with Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission Lt. Gen. Shao Yuanming, and visited some Chinese industrial companies.

Both sides affirmed that the bilateral defence cooperation forms an important part of the Vietnam-China relations and has been consolidated over the years. Notably, exchanges at all levels and political trust have been enhanced, while cooperation fields and mechanisms have become more practical.

They agreed to continue mutual visits by the two countries’ high-ranking military officials as well as bolster border exchanges and cooperation in military medicine, human resources training, search and rescue, defence industry and involvement in United Nations peacekeeping activities.

Especially, the officials consented to jointly organise communication activities on the close-knit relations and traditional friendship between the Communist Parties of Vietnam and China and the two armies, which were built and fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong.

The Chinese side spoke highly of the delegation’s visit and agreed with Vietnam’s proposal to provide equipment for search and rescue forces as well as engineer corps joining UN peacekeeping forces.

The outcomes of the visit are expected to serve as an impulse for the cooperation and friendship between the two armies in 2019 and following years.