Chinese minister stresses importance of defense cooperation with Vietnam

The April 24-27 visit is being made at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang.

A welcome ceremony was hosted in Hanoi Sunday by the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Giang, a Politburo member and Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang (R) and the Vietnamese delegation receive Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in Hanoi, April 25, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Thuy.

Giang congratulated China on successfully organizing its 2021 Two Sessions and achieving its 100-year plan. He informed the visitors about the Vietnam's successful organization of its 13th National Party Congress.

He said Vietnam always accords importance to strengthening the traditional friendship and promoting comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, considering it a top foreign policy priority.

Wei affirmed that defense cooperation between Vietnam and China was one of the crucial factors that contribute to improving friendship and cooperation between the two parties and states for the benefit of both peoples, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in each country, as well as in the region and the world.

Chinese Defense Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe (L) meets with his Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi, April 25, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Thuy.

Giang said Vietnam looks for peaceful solutions to any dispute in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

After the talk, the two ministers witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on establishing a unit to strengthen international cooperation between the two armies.

Vietnam and China established official diplomatic ties in 1950.