President attends the opening of the Vietnam Defense Attaché Office in Chile

On the evening of November 11 (local time), the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), the 35th anniversary of National Defense Day, and announced the opening of the Vietnam Defense Attaché Office in Chile.

General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense chaired the ceremony.

President Luong Cuong, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang and delegates performed the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Defense Attaché Office in Chile. (Photo: Thu Trang).

Attending the ceremony on the Vietnamese side were President Luong Cuong, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People's Armed Forces; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Chile Nguyen Viet Cuong; along with all leaders, representatives of ministries, branches and localities participating in the working delegation of the President, staff of the Embassy and the Office of the Vietnamese Defense Attaché in Chile.

On the Chilean side were Defense Minister Maya Fernández Allende and Deputy Foreign Minister Claudia Sanhueza Rivero. The event was also attended by Defense Attachés of various countries in Chile.

In his commemorative speech, General Phan Van Giang stated that on December 22, 1944, following the directive of President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army today, was established. Inheriting and promoting the spirit of patriotism, the quintessence of unique military art of the Vietnamese people and the support of international friends.

Over 80 years of building, fighting and growing, the Vietnam People's Army has continuously grown and developed, always demonstrating the mettle of a revolutionary army, born from the people, fighting for the people, worthy of being a special political force, an absolutely loyal and trustworthy fighting force of the Party, State and people of Vietnam.

Along with that, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that the Party and State's choice of December 22, 1989 as the National Defense Day not only demonstrated the inheritance of the Vietnamese people's tradition of the entire people fighting to defend the country, but also continued to affirm the Communist Party of Vietnam's viewpoint that the entire people participate in building the country and defending the Fatherland, in which the People's Armed Forces are the core.

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, delivered a commemorative speech. (Photo: Thu Trang)

Affirming that Vietnam's national defense is a national defense of all people, of a peaceful and self-defensive nature; actively, proactively, resolutely, and persistently preventing and repelling the risk of war, General Phan Van Giang clearly stated that the Party and State of Vietnam advocate socio-economic development associated with national defense-security and foreign affairs; closely coordinating national defense-security activities with foreign affairs activities. Vietnam persistently implements the "4 no's" defense policy.

Over the years, the Vietnam People's Army has always proactively promoted international integration and defense diplomacy on both bilateral and multilateral levels, achieving practical results. Up to now, Vietnam has participated in many regional and international multilateral defense and military mechanisms and forums; has defense cooperation relations with more than 100 countries, of which, it has established Defense Attaché/Military Attaché Offices in 35 countries and the United Nations. 42 countries have established Defense Attaché/Military Attaché Offices in Vietnam.

General Phan Van Giang emphasized that for Chile, the implementation of the policy of comprehensively promoting bilateral relations, including the military-defense field, has been agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders in recent meetings. On this occasion, on behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang solemnly announced the opening of the Vietnamese Defense Attaché Office in Chile.

In the newly established conditions, both performing regular and ad hoc tasks and perfecting the organization and force to meet the increasingly high requirements of defense foreign affairs, General Phan Van Giang requested that officers and staff of the Defense Attaché Office must regularly grasp their functions and tasks, clearly determine their determination, overcome difficulties, strive to complete political tasks well, and build a strong and comprehensive unit that is "Exemplary and typical".

On the other hand, General Phan Van Giang requested that agencies and units within the Ministry of National Defense, according to their functions and tasks, do better in coordinating and directing the Office of the Vietnamese Defense Attaché in Chile to effectively carry out tasks and advise on the organization of activities to promote Vietnam's defense cooperation with Chile and other countries.

On the same day, November 11, General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, had talks with Chilean Minister of National Defense Maya Fernández Allende.

Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized that although Vietnam and Chile are geographically far apart, they have always maintained a good and close traditional cooperative relationship, both during the period when the Vietnamese people fought for national independence in the past as well as in the cause of national construction and development today; affirming that Vietnam always respects Chile, the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam (March 25, 1971).

The Vietnamese Minister of National Defense and the Chilean Minister of National Defense signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation under the witness of President Luong Cuong and the Chilean President. (Photo: Thu Trang)

President Luong Cuong's choice of Chile as the first country to visit has affirmed Vietnam's respect and desire to promote cooperative relations with Chile. Minister Phan Van Giang assessed that over the past time, the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Chile has been constantly consolidated and developed, becoming increasingly deeper, more substantial and effective in many fields.

On the occasion of President Luong Cuong's visit, the two Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation between the two countries' Defense Ministries in the presence of President Luong Cuong and Chilean President Gabriel Boric.

This is the first Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation between the two countries, marking a milestone in bilateral defense relations, opening up opportunities for defense cooperation, actively contributing to the bilateral relationship, for peace, stability and common development of the region and the world, contributing to promoting the Vietnam - Chile comprehensive partnership.

Quan Khanh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/chu-pich-nuoc-du-khai-truong-van-phong-tuy-vien-quoc-phong-viet-nam-tai-chile-ar906920.html