General Phan Van Giang invited the Chinese Minister of Defense to attend the April 30 anniversary.

Within the framework of the Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange, today (April 17), in Lang Son city, General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, held talks with Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of China.

General Phan Van Giang thanked Minister Dong Quan for attending the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense was very pleased to welcome and meet 27 Chinese veterans and experts who had helped the Vietnamese revolution on this occasion.

Two Ministers view products of Lang Son province.

Pre-exchange activities such as medical examination, treatment, and free medicine provision to help people in border areas; localities of both sides sending delegations, people and students exchanging, young officers exchanging... contributed to realizing the "Vietnam - China Humanitarian Exchange Year", and at the same time were an important foundation for jointly maintaining stable borders and landmarks, promoting cooperative development between the two countries.

For the first time, the exchange witnessed a joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin between the two Navies.

Over the past time, defense cooperation has been effectively implemented and is one of the important pillars in the relationship between the two countries.

Land border cooperation between the two sides is increasingly close and intimate. Border management and protection forces of both sides continue to proactively and actively coordinate in the fight against crime and border management.

Maritime border cooperation is increasingly rich and substantive, with the navies and coast guards of the two countries continuing to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Cooperation in Party work, political work, cooperation between military branches, coast guards, defense industry, etc. is emphasized.

General Phan Van Giang affirmed that Vietnam always remembers and is grateful for the wholehearted and righteous assistance of the Party, Government, Army and people of China. In early April, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense completed the restoration and embellishment of Chinese martyrs' cemeteries in Vietnam.

Minister Phan Van Giang and Vietnamese delegates at the meeting.

Minister Dong Jun and Chinese delegates at the talks.

At the talks, the two sides also shared views on the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern.

Vietnam has always been consistent in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations; wishes to be friends with all countries, especially attaching importance to friendly relations with neighboring countries; consistently upholds the "four no's" defense policy.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam is determined and persistent in resolving the issue by peaceful means, in compliance with the common perception of the high-ranking leaders of Vietnam and China; in compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and hopes that China and ASEAN will soon sign a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On April 30, Vietnam will solemnly organize a national ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification in Ho Chi Minh City. Minister Phan Van Giang respectfully invites the Chinese Minister of Defense to attend; respectfully invites the Chinese Ministry of Defense to send military personnel to participate in the parade at the celebration.

This is an opportunity for Vietnam to express its gratitude for the valuable assistance of China and peace-loving countries around the world that have supported and assisted Vietnam's cause of national reunification.

The two Ministers witnessed the signing of a framework document on twinning between the Huu Nghi International Border Gate Border Guard Station (Lang Son Provincial Border Guard) and the Pingxiang Reunion and Talk Station (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Border Guard).

Senior Lieutenant General Dong Quan thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for carefully organizing the border exchange activities, and the program was a great success.

He said the exchange, held right after the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, showed the determination of the two Parties, two States and peoples of the two countries in joining hands to foster the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dai-tuong-phan-van-giang-moi-bo-truong-quoc-phong-trung-quoc-du-ky-niem-30-4-2392276.html