Vietnam and China: On April 17, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang met with his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun in Lang Son, a province near the northern border. The meeting took place as part of the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange. This important event aimed to improve defence cooperation and deepen friendship between the two countries.
During the talks, Minister Giang spoke about how different events held before this exchange had already helped build trust and cooperation between the two countries. He said these included medical check-ups, medicine distribution for people living near the border, and cultural exchanges between citizens, students, and young officers from both nations.
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He explained that these activities helped bring to life the “Vietnam-China Year of Humanistic Exchange.”
He also mentioned something new this year for the first time, a joint patrol took place in the Gulf of Tonkin, where both countries’ navies worked together to ensure peace and order at sea. Giang said that these efforts play an important role in keeping the border stable and safe, while also helping both countries grow together.
Vietnam and China: Defence Cooperation
Minister Giang said that defence cooperation has become a very important part of the relationship between Vietnam and China.
According to Vietnam+, He added, “based on the common perceptions reached by high-ranking leaders, the bilateral defence cooperation has been actively promoted and effectively implemented, becoming one of the important pillars in the relationship between the two nations.”
He thanked China for its past support. “Vietnam always remembers the sincere and meaningful assistance of the Party, Government, army, and people of China during Vietnam’s past struggle for national independence, as well as its current nation building process,” he said. Giang also shared that in early April, Vietnam had successfully restored and upgraded cemeteries of Chinese martyrs in Vietnam.
Looking ahead, Minister Giang made some suggestions to help both countries improve defence ties even more. He proposed more visits by military leaders, keeping regular meetings going, working together on political and party matters, and joining efforts between the border forces, navies, coast guards, and defence industries.
Both ministers also discussed regional and world events. Giang explained that Vietnam follows a foreign policy based on peace, independence, and friendship. He said Vietnam wants good relations with all countries and focuses on multilateral cooperation.
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He stated, “Vietnam consistently follows its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations.”
Commitment to Peace and Maritime
On the East Sea issue, Giang said Vietnam always wants peaceful solutions. He said, “Vietnam remains firm and persistent in solving the matter through peaceful means, adhering to the common understanding between the high-ranking leaders of both Vietnam and China, and respecting international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).” He added that Vietnam hopes China and ASEAN can soon agree on a strong and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
Before the meeting ended, Minister Giang invited Minister Dong to attend the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification on April 30 in Ho Chi Minh City. He also invited China to send a delegation to join the military parade.
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Minister Dong said that the exchange, coming just after the Chinese President’s state visit to Vietnam, shows the strong will of both governments and people to build their traditional friendship. He believed it would help deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.
At the end of the meeting, both ministers watched the signing of a new agreement. It created a partnership between the Huu Nghi International Border Gate Border Station in Lang Son and the Ping Xiang Border Defence Station in China’s Guangxi region.
