Join hands to build Vietnam's borders.

( Bqp.vn ) - The 8th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange was successfully held. This is one of the important diplomatic activities between the Ministries of Defense of the two countries in 2024, aimed at strengthening friendly relations and solidarity, promoting substantive cooperation between the border protection forces of the two countries, local authorities and people in the border areas, contributing to jointly building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing Vietnam-China border.

Minister Dong Jun presented flowers to congratulate Minister Phan Van Giang on his visit to China to attend the 8th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, April 12, 2024.

Over the past period, based on agreed agreements and cooperation mechanisms, especially the Protocol on Cooperation between the two Ministries of National Defence and the Joint Vision Statement on Cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of National Defence of the People's Republic of China until 2025, the two countries' militaries have effectively implemented cooperation contents, moving towards greater depth and achieving tangible results. Both sides have focused on promoting delegation exchanges, especially high-level exchanges, signing many important cooperation documents and agreements; maintaining and effectively utilizing annual cooperation mechanisms such as: the Deputy Minister-level Defence Strategic Dialogue; Border Defence Friendship Exchanges; Joint Patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin between the navies of the two countries; Bilateral Patrols between the border guard forces of the two countries; and developing models of exchange and twinning activities between border guard posts and stations. In addition, several other areas of cooperation, such as Party work, political work, military medicine, search and rescue, training, research, and academic exchange, are also being promoted by the Ministries of Defense of both countries. Particularly during the most difficult times due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministries of Defense and the armed forces of both countries promptly provided mutual support and assistance in terms of medical supplies and equipment, as well as sharing experiences in disease prevention and control.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang and Chinese Minister of National Defence Dong Jun signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Ministries of Defence on establishing a hotline between the Navy (Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam) and the Southern Theater Command (People's Liberation Army of China) on April 11, 2024.

During the state visit to Vietnam (December 2023) by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, the two sides issued a Vietnam-China Joint Statement on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building a strategically significant Vietnam-China community with a shared future; defining the framework of relations at a new high level, with six major directions expressed at a higher level, namely: Higher political trust; More substantive defense and security cooperation; Deeper substantive cooperation; A more solid social foundation; Closer multilateral coordination; and Better control and resolution of disagreements.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang and Chinese Minister of National Defence Dong Jun pose for a photo with joint patrol forces of the two countries at a border marker, April 12, 2024.

The Vietnam-China border region holds an extremely important strategic position for the national defense and security, as well as the socio-economic development of both countries. A peaceful and developed border will significantly contribute to the stability and development of each country, helping to consolidate the good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between Vietnam and China. Building, maintaining, and protecting a stable, peaceful, friendly, and cooperative border is always a crucial issue between neighboring countries. Border defense friendship exchange programs between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the Ministries of National Defense of China, Laos, and Cambodia all aim towards this important goal. This is a new and innovative model and approach, which the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense always attach special importance to in their leadership and implementation.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang and Chinese Minister of National Defence Dong Jun visited and encouraged teachers and students at Kim Dong Primary School (Lao Cai City) on April 11, 2024.

Since the first Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, organized by the Ministries of Defense of both countries in 2014 in Quang Ninh province (Vietnam) and Guangxi province (China), despite numerous difficulties such as limited transportation and infrastructure, and the complex COVID-19 pandemic situation in 2020-2022, the Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange has increasingly developed in both breadth and depth. Its content has become richer with many practical and meaningful activities, having a high impact and becoming an annual diplomatic event with significant political importance, supported by leaders at all levels, appreciated by the people of both countries, and attracting international attention.

The exchange demonstrates the high political determination of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, border protection forces, and localities in building and protecting the Vietnam-China border region as a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and sustainably developing area within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange model has significantly contributed to promoting solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between border protection units of the two countries, enhancing coordination capabilities, and resolving complex issues arising at the border promptly and effectively at the grassroots level, such as: resolving cases of law violations, illegal immigration, disease prevention and control, etc., contributing to protecting the sovereignty and ensuring border security of each country.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang and Chinese Minister of National Defence Dong Jun, along with other delegates, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Vietnam-China Friendship Cultural House in Ban Phiệt village (Ban Phiệt commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province) on April 11, 2024.

Furthermore, this exchange model carries profound humanitarian significance, contributing to the promotion of people-to-people diplomacy, providing the people of both countries with more opportunities for cultural exchange, interaction, cooperation, sharing business experiences, applying science to practical production, and building a prosperous and happy life. New, symbolic and highly effective projects, such as the Vietnam-China Friendship Cultural House, friendship exchange centers, product introduction and brand promotion centers at border gates, and computer classrooms, have provided border residents with spacious and convenient venues for community activities, cultural exchanges, trade promotion, and improving education and living standards. The Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange has become one of the exemplary models of border diplomacy and has been successfully replicated and organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense with Laos and Cambodia. China has also replicated a similar operational model with several countries that share a border with it.

Speaking at the reception for the Deputy Defense Attaché of China in Vietnam on January 12, 2024, Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vice Minister of National Defense, emphasized that in recent years, based on the traditional friendship and political trust between the two countries, Vietnam-China defense cooperation has been effectively promoted and implemented, continuing to affirm its role as an important pillar in the relationship between the two countries. He also proposed that both sides continue to promote defense cooperation in accordance with the signed documents and agreements, and concretize the cooperation orientations agreed upon during the official visit of the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense to China in October 2023.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang presents flowers to welcome Chinese Minister of National Defence Dong Jun on the occasion of his visit to Vietnam to attend the 8th Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange at the Lao Cai International Border Gate, April 11, 2024.

Speaking at the talks between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the Chinese Ministry of National Defence within the framework of the 8th Vietnam-China Defence Friendship Exchange Program (April 11, 2024), General Phan Van Giang affirmed that the border defence friendship exchange is a very important activity, contributing to strengthening political trust, mutual understanding, and tightening solidarity and close ties between the people, local authorities, and the Ministries of National Defence of the two countries; jointly building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative, and developing Vietnam-China border. This year's border defence friendship exchange is even more significant, marking the 10th anniversary of the exchange.

Minister Phan Van Giang and Minister Dong Quan pose for a photo with teachers and students of Bac Son Primary School (Ha Khau district, Yunnan province, China), April 12, 2024.

With its rich, diverse, and practical activities, the 8th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange was a resounding success, leaving a deep impression and spreading widely the friendship and solidarity between the armed forces and people of the two countries. The success of the exchange contributed to promoting substantive cooperation between the border protection forces of the two countries, local authorities, and the people in the border region; strengthening law enforcement and border protection; consolidating trust; and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in a substantive, healthy, and sustainable manner, for the benefit of the nation and the happiness of the people.

Manh Hung

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