Cao Bang (VNA) -The fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange, which took place onNovember 19 and 20, has been a success, said Deputy Defence Minister SeniorLieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

In an interview granted to theVietnam News Agency on the occasion of the exchange, the Deputy Defence Ministersaid like the previous editions, the event this year had been designed tosolidify the defence ties between the two armies, contributing to boosting therelations between the two Parties, States and nations.

He noted that the DefenceMinisters of the two countries had agreed on the need to make the exchange an officialevent in bilateral defence ties.

The deputy minister particularlyhighlighted the enthusiastic participation of the people from both countries inthe exchange, who directly joined in activities with the armed forces insteadof being just audiences. Thanks to the involvement, local people have becomeaware of the importance of defence cooperation from the high level down to thegrassroots level through practical and useful activities such as joint work in searchand rescue and military medical care. He added that on that basis, therelations between border localities will grow across many aspects.

According to Deputy MinisterVinh, there are many things to do to enhance defence ties between Vietnam and China,with the defence border friendship exchange being just one of them. At the sametime, he noted that the exchange is unique to Vietnam and China, due to thefact that the two countries share a borderline along with time-honoured solidarityand friendship for mutual development. In particular, the exchange has itsorigin in the common perception of the two Parties and States on optimizing thefavourable conditions of adjacent location and similarity in political regimes.

Therefore, the defence borderfriendship exchange will contribute positively to bilateral defence relations,Vinh said, stressing that more should be done to strengthen national defencewhile enhancing bilateral defence ties with China and maintaining peace and friendshipwith neighbouring countries.

The deputy defence minister underlinedthe central role played by the border guard force in the defence borderfriendship exchange. He went on to emphasise the force’s special role inenforcing law, safeguarding national sovereignty, and maintaining peace andfriendship with neighbouring countries which are China, Laos and Cambodia.

The fifth Vietnam-China borderdefence friendship exchange took place in Long Zhou district, Chong Zuo city,Zhuang Autonomous Region in China’s Guangxi province, and Phuc Hoa district,Cao Bang city of Vietnam’s northern border province of Cao Bang.

On November 19, a delegation ofthe Vietnam People’s Army led by Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich participated inthe exchange’s activities in Long Zhou, including talks between the two DefenceMinisters, and visits to Chinese military units, local schools and a memorialsite dedicated to Vietnam’s President Ho Chi Minh.  

The next day, the Chinesedelegation led by Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe arrived in Cao Bang,where they attended a joint drill on disaster and disease relief aid, visitedmilitary medical units and joined a discussion and art exchange.

The first Vietnam-China borderdefence friendship exchange programme was held in 2014 in Quang Ninh province,the second took place in Lao Cai in 2015, the third in Lang Son in 2016, andthe fourth in Lai Chau in 2017.-VNA