Vietnam-China border defence exchange successful: Deputy Defence Minister

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the exchange, the Deputy Defence Minister said like the previous editions, the event this year had been designed to solidify the defence ties between the two armies, contributing to boosting the relations between the two Parties, States and nations.

He noted that the Defence Ministers of the two countries had agreed on the need to make the exchange an official event in bilateral defence ties.

The deputy minister particularly highlighted the enthusiastic participation of the people from both countries in the exchange, who directly joined in activities with the armed forces instead of being just audiences. Thanks to the involvement, local people have become aware of the importance of defence cooperation from the high level down to the grassroots level through practical and useful activities such as joint work in search and rescue and military medical care. He added that on that basis, the relations between border localities will grow across many aspects.

According to Deputy Minister Vinh, there are many things to do to enhance defence ties between Vietnam and China, with the defence border friendship exchange being just one of them. At the same time, he noted that the exchange is unique to Vietnam and China, due to the fact that the two countries share a borderline along with time-honoured solidarity and friendship for mutual development. In particular, the exchange has its origin in the common perception of the two Parties and States on optimizing the favourable conditions of adjacent location and similarity in political regimes.

Therefore, the defence border friendship exchange will contribute positively to bilateral defence relations, Vinh said, stressing that more should be done to strengthen national defence while enhancing bilateral defence ties with China and maintaining peace and friendship with neighbouring countries.

The deputy defence minister underlined the central role played by the border guard force in the defence border friendship exchange. He went on to emphasise the force’s special role in enforcing law, safeguarding national sovereignty, and maintaining peace and friendship with neighbouring countries which are China, Laos and Cambodia.

The fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange took place in Long Zhou district, Chong Zuo city, Zhuang Autonomous Region in China’s Guangxi province, and Phuc Hoa district, Cao Bang city of Vietnam’s northern border province of Cao Bang.

On November 19, a delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army led by Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich participated in the exchange’s activities in Long Zhou, including talks between the two Defence Ministers, and visits to Chinese military units, local schools and a memorial site dedicated to Vietnam’s President Ho Chi Minh.

The next day, the Chinese delegation led by Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe arrived in Cao Bang, where they attended a joint drill on disaster and disease relief aid, visited military medical units and joined a discussion and art exchange.

The first Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme was held in 2014 in Quang Ninh province, the second took place in Lao Cai in 2015, the third in Lang Son in 2016, and the fourth in Lai Chau in 2017.