High-ranking army officers of Vietnam and China have affirmed the role of defence ties as a pillar in the comprehensive cooperative strategic partnership between the two Parties and States.
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High-ranking army officers of Vietnam and China have affirmed the role of defence ties as a pillar in the comprehensive cooperative strategic partnership between the two Parties and States.
This statement was made by Senior Lieutenant-General Do Ba Ty, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and his Chinese counterpart, Chen Bingde at their talks in Beijing on April 16.
They expressed their pleasure with the development of the two countries’ defence ties, saying that the two sides had effectively implemented the protocol signed between the two defence ministries in 2003, and other cooperative agreements.
The two armies increased exchanges of delegations at all levels, including exchanges among young officers and veterans, as well as cooperation in training.
Both sides continued to accelerate coordination between their navies, border guards and bordering military zones. Activities such as joint patrols at sea and on land, and joint search and rescue exercises at sea have contributed to maintaining security and order in border areas, and helped to deal with violations while preventing and fighting crime.
Cooperation in Party and political work and coordination in the mechanism of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) between the two armies continued to be strengthened.
Regarding East Sea issues, the two sides agreed that armies must be the vanguard forces in strictly implementing agreements between the two countries’ senior leaders, including the agreement on fundamental principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea.
They noted the need to heighten vigilance, to prevent hostile forces from inciting division between Vietnam and China or causing political instability in each country.
Addressing the talks, Senior Lieutenant-General Chen Bingde, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, stressed that the current visit to China by Senior Lieutenant-General Do Ba Ty not only promotes the traditional friendship between the two Parties, States, armies and peoples, but also creates a dynamic force to begin a new step of development and further strengthen confidence between the two countries and armies.
He gave a briefing on China ’s achievements in socio-economic development, science and technology under the leadership of the Party.
Senior Lieutenant-General Ty introduced Vietnam ’s outstanding achievements from the 11 th National Party Congress, focusing on political and social stability, the strengthening of defence and security, along with people’s increased trust in the Party leadership and Government.
He said the Party, Government, people and army of Vietnam always remember the support and assistance of the Party, Government, people and army of China in the struggle for national liberation and re-unification of the country in the past and in national construction and development at present.
He stressed that the Vietnamese-Chinese friendship holds important strategic significance for both countries, as well as for peace, stability and common development in the region.
Developing a fine and sustainable neighbouring friendship with China is always Vietnam ’s consistent policy and a top priority in its external policy.
At the talks, the two sides agreed to continue implementing cooperation in the fields stated in the two ministries’ protocol and focus on exchanges of delegations at all levels and personnel training in future.
The two armies will continue completing current cooperative mechanisms and study new mechanisms, helping make the relations between the two armies deeper and more substantial while enhancing mutual trust.
The armies should boost information dissemination on the traditional friendship between the two countries’ people and armies, and coordinate at multilateral forums, especially at the ADMM+, raising the role and position of the Vietnamese and Chinese armies in the region and promoting cooperation for peace, cooperation and development.
(Source: VNA)
