Defence Minister receives Spanish Ambassador
Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 9 for newly-appointed Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano De Lasala, during which he highlighted ample room for the two countries' cooperation in defence.
Giang expressed Vietnam’s appreciation for the cooperative relationship with Spain and wished to lift bilateral ties to a new height that matches cooperation potential.
According to him, Vietnam-Spain defence cooperation has seen steady progress in recent years in line with a relevant memorandum of understanding signed in 2010, especially in the exchange of delegations and training, defence industry, and the United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Highlighting the vast potential to boost defence ties tailored to their respective needs and capabilities, Giang proposed increasing the exchange of all-level delegations and training, with an emphasis on the Spanish language.
He also underscored the importance of stepping up collaboration in the UN peacekeeping operations, engaging in strategic exchanges, sharing experiences and assisting the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence in post-war recovery efforts, and working closely together at multilateral forums.
Vietnam is ready to welcome military Spanish students for Vietnamese language training at the Military Science Academy, and an international defence officials’ course at the National Defence Academy, he said.
Ambassador De Lasala, for her part, commended the Vietnam People's Army for its disaster response capabilities.
Regarding bilateral defence ties, she suggested continuing with close coordination, especially in training and the UN peacekeeping operations.
