President Tran Dai Quang told visiting Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu on January 23 that cooperation in defence and military technology continues playing an important role in Vietnam-Russia relations.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) receives Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu 

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

Vietnam always remembers Russia’s great support for 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 efforts made by the two Defence Ministries and Russian partners to implement the two countries’ priority tasks in 2017, thus helping foster the bilateral relations.

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

Minister Sergey Shoyu briefed the host on the outcomes of his talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich, during which they discussed and agreed on measures to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

He said they had mapped out a plan for cooperation until 2020, with the focus on military technological and training cooperation and delegation exchanges to share experience in the defence field.

The minister noted that the two defence ministries held the 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 agreements on cooperation in UN peacekeeping activities and coordination in the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

President Quang appreciated the outcomes of the talks between the two ministers and expressed his backing for measures they had agreed.

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

Vietnam wants Russia’s greater role in Asia-Pacific: Party chief

CPV chief Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu 

Vietnam always supports and wants Russia to play a greater role in the Asian-Pacific region, considering it an active element to peace and stability in the region and the world, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Party chief made the remark at a reception for visiting Minister of Defence of Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu in Hanoi on January 23.

“The Party, State, National Assembly, Government and people of Vietnam have greatly treasured the traditional friendship and efficient cooperation with Russia and have always attached importance to developing the comprehensive strategic partnership with the country, regarding it as one of top priorities in their foreign policy,” he stated.

He spoke highly of the results of the talks between Defence Ministers Ngo Xuan Lich and Sergey Shoyu, adding that “Vietnam sees Russia as a prioritized partner in cooperation in military technology based on high trust and not aiming to act against a third country, contributing to safeguarding peace, stability and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific and the world.”   

Close and regular cooperation between the two defence ministries has helped ratchet up the comprehensive strategic partnership of the two countries, Party chief Trong said, expressing his belief that the outcomes gained during Minister Sergey Shoyu’s visit will contribute to reinforcing and deepening the partnership, especially in defence and military technology cooperation.

The Russian Minister said Russia always places importance to reinforcing and developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam and will spare no effort to push the implementation of signed agreements, particularly on defence and military technology cooperation, to make practical changes in the bilateral ties.

The Russian Ministry of Defence will work closely with the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to promote the bilateral defence ties to grow in a long-term, practical, efficient and reliable manner, he said.

VNA