The 8th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange

The delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of China was headed by Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China.

The delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam is led by General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Participating in the exchange program, on the side of Lao Cai province were comrade Dang Xuan Phong, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and leaders of the northern provinces sharing the border with China.

Minister Phan Van Giang welcomed Minister Dong Jun and the delegation of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense at Lao Cai International Border Gate.

The exchange program took place under the chairmanship of Senior General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, and Senior General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of China, including activities taking place in Lao Cai province (Vietnam) on April 11 and Yunnan province (China) on April 12.

Organizing the 8th Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange contributes to concretizing the Vietnam-China Joint Statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future, which has strategic significance during the State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023.

Through the Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program, it contributes to enhancing political trust, tightening solidarity, promoting cooperation between the army as well as border protection forces, local authorities and people in the Vietnam-China border area, together building a border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.

* The two Ministers saluted the flag and painted the milestone

Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang presents flowers to Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun.

The two ministers saluted the flag and reviewed the honor guard.

At exactly 7:30 a.m. on April 11, at Lao Cai International Border Gate, the welcoming ceremony for the Chinese Defense Ministry delegation took place solemnly under the chairmanship of General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of Defense of Vietnam.

Defense Ministers of the two countries saluted the sovereignty milestone.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang painted the milestone.

After the welcoming ceremony, the two countries' Defense Ministers performed a ceremony to salute the border marker; planted a friendship tree on the Vietnam-China border at Lao Cai International Border Gate; and Minister Phan Van Giang painted the sovereignty marker 102 (2) on the Vietnamese side.

The two Ministers planted friendship trees at the Lao Cai International Border Gate area.

* Defense Ministers of the two countries attended the inauguration ceremony of the Friendship Cultural House.

Scene of the inauguration ceremony of the Friendship Cultural House in Ban Phiet commune.

The two Ministers and delegations of the two countries' Ministries of Defense attended the inauguration ceremony of the Friendship Cultural House.

Next, the Minister of National Defense and the delegation of the two Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and China attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the Vietnam-China Border Friendship Cultural House in Ban Phiet commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province.

Chairman of Ban Phiet Commune People's Committee Nguyen Anh Tu delivered a welcome speech to the delegation of the two countries' Ministries of National Defense to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Friendship Cultural House.

In his welcome speech, Comrade Nguyen Anh Tu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ban Phiet Commune expressed his joy that on the occasion of the 8th Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has invested in building the Vietnam - China Border Friendship Cultural House in the locality. This is the largest, most beautiful, most functional and convenient cultural house in Lao Cai province. The project has a particularly important meaning, serving the people on both sides of the border to exchange, strengthen the friendly and cooperative relationship; and take care of the cultural and spiritual life of the people in the border area. The project is a testament and a good symbol for the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, which is constantly being consolidated and developed in the spirit of 4 goods: "Good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, good partners".

A 1.jpg — Defense Ministers of the two countries presented gifts to Ban Phiet commune.

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Cultural House.

The two Ministers took souvenir photos with people on both sides of the border.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Ban Phiet commune promised to continue promoting the solidarity and friendship between the authorities and people on both sides of the border to help each other develop the economy, exchange culture, together maintain security and order in the border area, contribute to building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed Vietnam - China border, and build a forever green and sustainable Vietnam - China solidarity and friendship.

A 15.jpg — Delegates visit the Friendship Cultural House.

Here, Minister Dong Quan and Minister Phan Van Giang cut the ribbon and presented gifts to the government and people of Ban Phiet commune.

* Two Ministers visited and presented gifts to Kim Dong Primary School

Students of Kim Dong Primary School presented red scarves and flowers to the two Ministers.

Continuing the series of activities within the framework of the 8th Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program, Minister Phan Van Giang and Minister Dong Quan visited Kim Dong Primary School (Lao Cai city).

The Minister and the delegation of the two countries' Defense Ministries visited Kim Dong Primary School.

On behalf of the school, Ms. Hoang Thi Huong Giang, Principal of Kim Dong Primary School, reported on the achievements of teachers and students of the school over the past 30 years of construction and development. The school has always promoted the tradition of emulation in good teaching and good learning; maintained and developed the quality of comprehensive education and the quality of outstanding students. Up to now, nearly 4,000 students have won prizes in competitions at all levels, many of whom have won national and international prizes.

The school also actively promotes and educates students about the solidarity and good traditional friendship between Vietnam and China and the value of studying and growing up in a peaceful environment.

Teachers and students of Kim Dong Primary School promise to continue to strive to compete in "Teaching well, learning well".

Kim Dong Primary School is recognized as meeting national standards level 2; educational quality assessment level 3 and is considered one of the typical and excellent schools of Lao Cai city in particular and Lao Cai province in general.

The two Ministers presented gifts and took photos with teachers and students of Kim Dong Primary School.

Honored to welcome the Ministers of National Defense and the delegations of the Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and China, teachers and students of Kim Dong Primary School promise to continue to strive to compete in "Teaching well, studying well", actively propagating and educating generations of students to foster the evergreen and everlasting solidarity between Vietnam and China.

* Visit Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station

The two Ministers visited the resting area for officers and soldiers of the Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station.

Visiting the Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station, the Defense Ministers of the two countries listened to the unit commander introduce and report on some outstanding results in recent times.

View of the visit to Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station by the working delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and China.

Lao Cai International Border Guard Station was established in 1959, with the task of managing and protecting more than 17 km of national border and 8 border markers, bordering the management area of Hekou Immigration Border Control Station, Reunion Station, Hong Ha Border Management Team and Hekou Border Guard Battalion, Yunnan Province, China.

The Chief of Lao Cai International Border Guard Station reports the unit's situation.

In recent years, with the attention of the Party committees and local authorities, the relationship between the border protection forces of the two sides has been increasingly consolidated and developed. The two sides have seriously and responsibly implemented the three legal documents on the border between Vietnam and China, the Border Cooperation Agreement between the two countries' Defense Ministries signed on November 12, 2017 and the memorandums of understanding and bilateral talks; made efforts to enhance the effectiveness of border management and protection, control of entry and exit, and fight against crimes; regularly maintained the order and regime of talks, meetings, exchanges, joint patrols, and exchanges via hotlines; promoted administrative procedure reform, and applied information technology to facilitate entry and exit, import and export activities across borders and border gates.

Delegates visited Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station.

The two sides have actively advised and coordinated to effectively organize the twinning model of "Friendship station - harmonious border gate" and "Friendship station - battalion, peaceful border" between Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station and Hekou Border Guard Battalion and Hekou Immigration Border Control Station, initiating twinning activities on the Vietnam - China border; advised local authorities on both sides to promote people-to-people diplomacy, organize twinning of residential clusters on both sides of the border; increased cultural, artistic and sports exchanges, and congratulated each other on holidays, New Year's and traditional days of each side.

The above results have contributed to enhancing understanding, building solidarity and mutual trust, and promptly coordinating to resolve issues of mutual concern, for a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border.

One of the important activities in the 8th Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program in Lao Cai province is the Talks between the High-ranking Delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the High-ranking Delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. Lao Cai Newspaper will continue to inform readers.

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