Defence cooperation important to Vietnam-Russia ties: President

President Tran Dai Quang informed visiting Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu that cooperation in defence and military technology continues to play an important role in Vietnam-Russia relations, at a meeting on January 23^rd.

President Tran Dai Quang (right) receives Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu. (Source: VNA)

At a reception for the Russian minister in Hanoi, President Quang spoke highly of the development of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and the high-level agreements reached in 2017.

Vietnam always remembers Russia’s great support during the country’s past struggle for national liberation and current nation building and safeguarding, he said, affirming Vietnam’s consistent policy of strengthening the partnership in all fields.

The Vietnamese leader hailed the efforts made by the two Defence Ministries and Russian partners to implement the two countries’ priority tasks in 2017, thus helping to foster the bilateral relations.

He took the occasion to wish Russia’s Presidential election in 2018 a success.

Minister Sergey Shoyu noted that the two defence ministries held their third strategic defence dialogue at deputy ministerial level in Hanoi in November last year. Every year, the Russian side provides scholarships for officers of the Vietnamese defence ministry.

The two ministries have also signed several agreements on cooperation in U.N. peacekeeping activities and coordination in the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

He asked the two defence ministries to promote their achievements and accelerate the negotiations towards the signing of a plan for defence cooperation during 2018-2020.

The two ministers inspect the guard of honour. (Credit: qdnd.vn)

Earlier on the same day, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich and Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu held talks in Hanoi.

Minister Lich noted that the visit demonstrates the commitment of the two defence ministry leaders to promote the bilateral defence cooperation, contributing to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Minister Sergei Shoigu affirmed that Russia considers Vietnam as a traditional friend and an important strategic partner in the region.

At the talks between the two ministers. (Credit: qdnd.vn)

During the talks, the two ministers expressed their pleasure at the strong development of bilateral defence collaboration over the past few years.

The two sides agreed to share their viewpoints on defence-security matters of mutual concern and boost coordination in traditional fields, including military technical cooperation, on a long-term and win-win basis for mutual benefits and peace, stability in the region and around the world./.

VNF/VNA