At the event, the Chief of the ministry’s Department for External Relations, Lieutenant General Pham Thanh Lan, reviewed the cooperative ties between the Defence Ministry and the Vietnam People’s Army with their foreign partners.

He said such close ties have helped not only strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation but also contributed to consolidating peace and stability in the region and the world.

Lieu. Gen. Lan expressed hope that the close cooperation in national defense between Vietnam and the foreign countries will even grow further on the basis of mutual trust and bringing in practical results.

Colonel Hidemaro Ohto, Japan’s defence attaché and head of the foreign military attachés delegation, said 2010 is an important year for Vietnam and the Vietnamese Defence Ministry plays an important role in ASEAN and the world.

He said he hopes the ties between the Vietnamese Defence Ministry and their foreign partners will continuously develop and maintain peace and stability in the region and the world.