Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun co-chaired activities within the eighth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange which opened in Vietnam’s Lao Cai province on April 11, VNA reported.

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (R) and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun at the welcome ceremony held for the latter. Photo: VOVTV

The ministers painted border marker No. 102, planted a friendship tree at the Lao Cai International Border Gate, and attended the inauguration ceremony for a Vietnam-China friendship cultural house in Ban Phiet commune, Bao Thang district.

The project has a total investment of VND 18 billion (USD 719.900), built on an area of over 1,200m2 according to traditional stilt house architecture, and is a symbol of Vietnam - China friendship.

This is the largest, most beautiful cultural house, with the best functions and utilities in Lao Cai province, and is a project of special importance, serving people on both sides of the border to exchange, strengthen friendship and cooperation relationships, improve the cultural and spiritual life of people in border areas. At the same time, it is a testament and symbol of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China that is constantly being strengthened and developed.

At the inauguration ceremony for a Vietnam-China friendship cultural house in Ban Phiet commune, Bao Thang district. Photo: Lao Cai People's Committee

They also visited and presented gifts to students at Kim Dong Primary School in Coc Leu ward, Lao Cai city, and visited the border guard post at the Lao Cai International Border Gate. The two sides then held talks and signed a memorandum of understanding.

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun visited and presented gifts to students at Kim Dong Primary School in Coc Leu ward, Lao Cai City. Photo: Lao Cai People's Committee

In his remarks at the talks, Minister Giang stressed the significance of the border defense friendship exchange to promoting mutual political trust and understanding, and strengthening solidarity and close ties between people, authorities, and defense ministries of the two countries, for a shared borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.

The Vietnamese Party, Government, army, and people always treasure the valuable contributions and support of their Chinese counterparts in their past struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as the present cause of national construction, Giang said.

The minister affirmed that China has always been one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy, and stressed Vietnam’s consistent stance of attaching importance to building solidarity, friendship, long-term stability, solid trust, and comprehensive cooperation with the neighboring country.

He said Vietnam has pursued a consistent foreign policy of independence, peace, friendship, cooperation and development and a defence policy of "four no's", adding that peaceful measures should settle the maritime issue through negotiations and compliance to the common perceptions reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

Giang used the occasion to invite Minister Dong, leaders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence of China and Chinese defense businesses to attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo.

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun salute the border milestone at Lao Cai International Border Gate. Photo: PANO

The two sides noted with pleasure the positive developments of the bilateral defense ties, especially the exchange of high-level delegations, the effective operation of the defense strategic dialogue mechanism, training cooperation, Party and political affairs, and border management and protection.

Bilateral cooperation in border management and protection between border forces, border military zones and border localities has produced practical outcomes, with the borderline and border markers kept safe and political and social order in border areas secured.

They shared the view that the exchange program has become an effective and unique model of cooperation, demonstrating the political resolution of both sides in strengthening solidarity and close ties between people, authorities, localities and defense ministries of the two countries.

To boost the defense-security ties in a more practical manner, the two sides will step up delegation exchanges, and maintain and make the best use of annual cooperation mechanisms, including the defense strategic dialogue, the border defense friendship exchange, and the joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.

They will also enhance cooperation in training, Party and political affairs, defense industry, defense trade, strategic research, United Nations peacekeeping, logistics, and military medicine.

A memorandum of understanding between the two defense ministries on the establishment of a hotline between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is signed. Photo: Lao Cai People's Committee

At the end of their talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding of the two defense ministries on the establishment of a hotline between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

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