PANO – Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh hosted a reception for his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan in Hanoi on March 27th.
The two ministers then had talks, the first activity in the framework of the third Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange. They exchanged views on the relations of the two armies and agreed on the positive developments in the bilateral comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China, including defence cooperation.
General Phung Quang Thanh and Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan reviewing the guards-of-honour of the Vietnam People's Army
The two general frankly discussed issues related to existing disputes in the East Sea and underlined that the two countries should settle such sophisticated issue through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They also agreed to fully and effectively implement agreements reached by the state leaders of the two countries and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and shortly finalize the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in order to build the East Sea into the waters of peace, friendship and cooperation, contributing to further consolidating the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership as well as peace and stability in the region.
The two sides also emphasized that their armies should well control situation and avoid the use of force and the threat to use force for the sake of peace, stability and cooperation of each country, and in the region and the rest of the world.
At the talks
The two armies will boost the bilateral relations, as they all deem that defence cooperation is one of the pillars in the two countries’ traditional friendship and solidarity, they added.
Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan in turn thanked the host for the warm reception and invited him to visit China at an appropriate time. General Phung Quang Thanh accepted the invitation with pleasure.
On this occasion, the two defence ministers also witnessed the signing of an agreement on the UN peacekeeping operations cooperation between the Vietnamese and Chinese Ministries of National Defence.
In the coming days, General Phung Quang Thanh and Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan will co-chair activities under the third Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange, which will take place between the Vietnamese Northern province of Lang Son and the Chinese Southern province of Guangxi from March 28th to 31st.
General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) receiving Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan
* The same day, Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan met with General Ngo Xuan Lich, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Welcoming the Chinese Defence Minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich stressed that his visit to Vietnam is a good opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, map out measures to realize instructions reached by their leaders, and roll out tasks under the bilateral defence cooperation agreement.
For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan expressed his joy to visit Vietnam and co-chair the third Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange.
He congratulated Vietnam on the success of the recent 12th National Party Congress and believed that under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country will continue gaining more achievements in the time to come.
The Chinese officer also hoped that the two Defence Ministries would further boost cooperation with the aim of strengthening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
Translated by Van Hieu
Defence cooperation is a major pillar in Vietnam-China relations Related image(s)
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