Vietnam, China hold border defence friendship exchange 2022
General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and Senior Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe, Minister of National Defence of China, co-hosted the seventh border defence friendship exchange on April 23.
The exchange took place in Quang Hoa district of Cao Bang province (Vietnam) and Longzhou district of Guangxi province (China).
During their talks in Longzhou district, Gen. Giang affirmed that the Party, State, Government and People’s Army of Vietnam always attach great importance to consolidating the traditional friendship and promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China, considering this as one of the top priority in the country’s foreign policy.
Minister Giang thanked the Chinese Ministry of National Defense for its support and donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.
Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Wei noted both sides have always cultivated and built a good relationship since they held the sixth border defense friendship exchange a year ago. He said he believes these activities will definitely further strengthen the China-Vietnam friendship and solidarity, increase political trust, foster practical cooperation in order to build a peaceful and stable border, and bring happiness to the two peoples.
The two sides shared the view that despite the negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, defense cooperation between Vietnam and China over the past time has been maintained through flexible and effective forms of exchange. Notably, they successfully organized a joint military medical exercise in December 2021 in Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province (Vietnam).
The two sides agreed to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels and effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Defense Strategy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level and the annual border defense friendship exchange, as well as cooperation between armed forces and academies.
They will continue to coordinate closely in strictly implementing land border agreements, strictly protecting the border, combating crime, illegal entry and exit, and preventing epidemics from spreading across the border.
They also consented to continue to coordinate and support each other at multilateral military and defense forums.
The two sides frankly discussed and agreed to solve outstanding issues, in the common interests of the two countries, by peaceful means and on the basis of international law.
In the afternoon, Minister Wei led a Chinese delegation to hold a similar exchange in Quang Hoa district of Cao Bang province.
