Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Phan Van Giang (R) and Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe (Photo: VNA)

The event was co-chaired by Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Phan Van Giang and Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe. 

It was meant to foster political trust, friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the border guards, authorities and peoples of the two countries in border areas, contributing to building a borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development. 

During talks before the welcome ceremony at Dongxing border gate in the morning the same day, both sides affirmed that over the past more than seven decades since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, friendship and cooperation have been a mainstream of ties between the two Parties and nations. Exchange activities have contributed to strengthening Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership that meets aspirations and interests of the two peoples. 

Thet wo countries’ border guards have also promptly discovered and informed illegal entries to each other, thereby helping effectively control COVID-19 infections across the border, creating favourable conditions to maintain border trade. 

Giang hailed the Chinese Central Military Commission and Defence Ministry for providing support for the Vietnamese Defence Ministry, including border guards, in terms of medical supplies and anti-pandemic expertise. 

He suggested the two defence ministries maintain the event to further boost ties between the two armies, border guards and peoples in border areas, adding that both sides could hold drills to cope with disasters and epidemics across the border. 

The Vietnamese minister proposed building and upholding values of friendship works, and assisting poor households in border areas via the provision of livelihood support and scholarships. 

The two sides affirmed that the friendship exchange also manifests determination, solidarity and friendship between the two Parties, States and armies. Vietnam and China will do their best to continue maintaining and fostering cooperation and friendship between the two peoples and border guards. 

Following the talks, they witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on further cooperation in scientific research between the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Institute for Military Strategy and the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Chinese Defence Minister welcomed in Quang Ninh

Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Phan Van Giang hosted an official ceremony to welcome Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe at Hoanh Mo border gate, the northern province of Quang Ninh, on April 24, as part of the sixth Vietnam – China border defence friendship exchange.

Earlier, Giang also attended the exchange in Dongxing city, China’s Guangxi province.

The two ministers later cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Vietnam – China friendship cultural house in Dong Van commune, Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province, which was built by the two defence ministries.

Speaking at the event, Wei said the building of the house is one of the activities demonstrating the wish to further uphold bilateral traditional friendship, which was founded and nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, and generations of the two countries' leaders.

Minister Giang, for his part, said Vietnam always attaches importance to developing fine neighbourliness and long-standing relationship with China. Over the past years, defence cooperation has become one of the important pillars in the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
 
He wished that leaders of the Chinese Defence Ministry and the two countries’ authorities will create favourable conditions for their cadres, soldiers and peoples to join exchanges, and expressed his hope that the exchange will continue serving as a friendship bridge linking the two armies, authorities and peoples. 

On the occasion, the two ministers presented gifts to residents in Dong Van commune and a township in Guangxi province./.VNA