Vietnam wishes to increase defense cooperation with China

Chien congratulated China on successfully organizing the recent session of the legislature, electing a new cabinet, including new Defense Minister. On this occasion, he extended Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang’s greetings to newly elected Chinese Defense Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Li Shangfu.

He affirmed the Party, Government and Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam always attach great importance to the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries, saying comprehensive cooperation between the two parties and countries is a prerequisite for promoting bilateral defense cooperation in a more effective and practical manner.

Despite the COVID-19 impact, Chien said defense cooperation between Vietnam and China has been maintained through flexible forms of exchange and contact. The two sides successfully organized the seventh Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange in April 2022, and they continued to foster land border cooperation, especially in the fight against drugs, crime, and illegal immigration.

The Deputy Minister suggested that the two sides further promote defense cooperation, with a primary focus on the exchange of delegations and the signing of a number of cooperation documents in the fields of navy and border guard.

He also requested that the two sides make all preparations for the eighth Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange this year to ensure it would be a great success.

Col. Pan Tao said many defense cooperation activities have been outlined by the Chinese Defense Ministry in its Cooperation Plan 2023. Notably, he said Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen Phan Van Giang will be invited to pay an official visit to China on the occasion of the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum 2023.

Pan agreed with Chien’s proposals and said he would soon report the outcome of the meeting to the Chinese defense leaders to deploy cooperation activities in an appropriate time.