Deputy Defence Minister Seninor Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception for UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever in Hanoi on May 28, during which he highlighted major strides in bilateral defence cooperation.

Deputy Defence Minister Seninor Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (R) receives UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever  (Source: http://soha.vn)

The two countries have shared experience in UN peacekeeping activities and provided training for naval forces and marine police, Vinh said.

He noted that defence relations between Vietnam and the UK have grown on par with their strategic partnership.

He hoped bilateral defence cooperation will thrive further through high-level delegation exchanges and deputy ministerial defence policy dialogue.

The officer expected the two sides to work together to promote marine security, exchange experience in implementing the UN peacekeeping operations and support each other at multilateral forums.

The same day, Deputy Defence Minister Vinh received Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar, who described defence relations as an important factor to enhance bilateral rapport.

Deputy Defence Minister Vinh (R) receives Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar (Source: http://soha.vn)

He pledged to do his utmost to increase mutual understanding and friendly cooperation between the two countries’ armies.

The host highlighted encouraging outcomes in the defence partnership between Vietnam and Israel over the years and suggested the two sides exchange more in education-training, search and rescue efforts and defence industry.

Also on May 28, Major General Ngo Minh Tien, Deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, welcomed Rear Admiral Mokgadi Alpheus Maphoto, Provost Marshal General of the South African National Defence Force.

Mokgadi Alpheus Maphoto informed the host about the positive outcomes of his earlier working session with the Department of Criminal Investigation under the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam.

Major General Tien called on the two countries’ armies to continue with deputy ministerial defence policy dialogue, delegation exchanges and joint projects in defence industry, logistics and medical military.

This will help reinforce the bilateral defence partnership in line with the sound relations between Vietnam and South Africa, he added.-VNA