Vietnam sends two of its most modern surface combat ships on joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin with China

Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang and Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun at the 8th Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange in 2024. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

At the press conference, a representative of the Ministry of National Defense said that the Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange will take place from April 16-17 in Lang Son province (Vietnam) and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China).

The Vietnamese delegation was led by General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense. The Chinese delegation was led by the Chinese Minister of National Defense.

According to the scheduled program, on April 16, a welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation will take place in China, where they will visit the Huu Nghi Quan tourist area and the Huu Nghi Quan Border Guard Company. The two Ministers will witness a joint patrol between the two countries' navies online.

Major General Nguyen Xuan Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Propaganda and Training, General Department of Politics , Vietnam People's Army chaired the press conference.

Leaders of the two countries' Ministries of Defense will also visit the smart border gate at Huu Nghi Quan Border Gate, visit Primary School No. 4 of Bang Tuong City, and the cultural village in the border area.

On April 17, activities will take place in Vietnam, including a welcoming ceremony for the Chinese delegation and a friendship tree planting ceremony. The two ministers will visit Dong Dang Primary School, the Friendship International Border Gate Border Guard Station, and tour the Logistics Park of the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group.

The two defense ministers of Vietnam and China will hold talks and witness the signing ceremony of cooperation documents.

Regarding the joint patrol between the two navies, Lieutenant Colonel Cao Van Dan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Navy Newspaper, said that the Vietnam Navy will coordinate with the Southern Theater Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to organize the 38th joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The Vietnam Navy will send the missile frigate squadron 015-Tran Hung Dao and 016-Quang Trung to visit and exchange with the neighboring country. According to Lieutenant Colonel Cao Van Dan, these are the two most modern surface combat ships of the Navy, and this is also the first time these two ships have conducted a joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin."

Lieutenant Colonel Cao Van Dan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Navy Newspaper.

The two ships will depart from Cam Ranh naval port on April 10 to head to Beihai naval port (Guangxi, China). The Chinese Navy will welcome the Vietnamese fleet. Afterwards, there will be meetings and exchanges between the commanders of the Vietnamese fleet and representatives of the Chinese Navy; sports exchanges between naval officers of the two countries, ship tours... In particular, the two sides will conduct joint patrols and coordinate joint training on search and rescue at sea.

Also on the morning of April 9, the Ministry of National Defense provided information on key cultural and artistic activities in April.

Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defense organized the epic art program "The Country is Full of Joy" with 24 works.

The program is a story told through works of art, affirming the leadership of the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, the brave fighting spirit, the glorious feats of our army and people, highlighting the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign...

The program is expected to take place on the evening of April 20, at the outdoor stage (in front of) Thong Nhat Hall (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Colonel Dang My Hanh (Head of the Department of Culture and Arts, Department of Propaganda) said that there are about more than 1,000 actors inside and outside the Army participating in the performance, including singers Cam Van, Tung Duong, People's Artist Thanh Thuy and especially the talents of the program Anh trai vu ngan cong gai, the talents will perform a new act specially created for the program.

Leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, Ho Chi Minh City, veteran revolutionary cadres, heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroes of the armed forces, heroes of labor and generals... will attend the program.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-cu-hai-tau-chien-dau-mat-nuoc-hien-dai-nhat-tuan-tra-lien-hop-o-vinh-bac-bo-voi-trung-quoc-310486.html