Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh and his Chinese counterpart Sen. Lieut. Gen. Chang Wanquan candidly discussed the sea dispute that has affected relations between Vietnam and China during their talks in Hanoi on March 27.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh (L) and his Chinese counterpart Sen. Lieut. Gen. Chang Wanquan

The two ministers stressed that the two sides will continue to handle the issue through peaceful and friendly dialogues and on the basis of regulations and mechanisms defined by international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

They agreed the two sides will exert all-out efforts to seek fundamental and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides, seriously abide by common agreements and perceptions reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, strictly observe the principles and spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vietnam and China will work to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, contributing to developing the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and maintaining regional peace and stability, they said.

The two defence ministers shared the view that the two armies should keep calm, restrain themselves, well control the situation, avoid conflicts and not threaten to use force in order to protect peace, stability, collaboration and the interests of the two countries, the region and the world as a whole.

At the same time, the two sides will strengthen the bilateral affiliation in a pragmatic, effective, stable and sustainable fashion, thus making defence cooperation one of the pillars of the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

Minister Phung Quang Thanh emphasized that the visit of Minister Chang Wanquan from March 26-28 offers a good opportunity for the two defence ministries to discuss relevant issues in realising the instruction of the two countries’ leaders, as well as to implement the bilateral agreement on defence collaboration, towards enhancing political trust and promote defence ties between the two countries.

On this occasion, the two ministers witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two defence ministries in the field of UN peace-keeping missions.

As part of his visit, Minister Chang Wanquan held a meeting with Sen . Lieut . Gen . Ngo Xuan Lich , Chief of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, also on March 27.

Party chief receives Chinese defence minister

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan in Hanoi on March 27.

The Party General Secretary welcomed the minister to Vietnam for a visit and to attend the third Vietnam-China friendship defence border exchange.

He hailed the outcome of the talks between the defence ministers of the two countries, saying that it is a measure to implement the common perception reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and States. The talk’s outcome also helped strengthen mutual understanding and political trust as well as the bond between the two Parties and States in general and the two armies in particular.

General Secretary Trong also valued the cooperation and exchange between the two armies over the recent past and suggested that the two sides continue to maintain high-level contact and effectively carry out defence cooperation mechanisms such as defence policy dialogue, joint patrol on the Tonkin Gulf and along the land border, and defence exchange, thus contributing to constantly strengthen the peaceful, stable friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He reiterated that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the traditional neighbourly friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China. He called for the two sides to focus efforts on realising the common perception and agreement between leaders of the two Parties and countries via practical and specific action, enhancing political trust, accelerating and increasing the collaboration across the fields, safeguarding peace and stability in the East Sea in the spirit of respect for mutual interest and adherence to international law.

Minister Chang Wanquan extended regards from the Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as well as his congratulations on the success of Vietnam’s 12th National Party Congress.

He briefed his host on the result of his talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh and the cooperation between the two defence ministries.

The minister expressed his wish for more exchanges in high-level visits and military research, defence technology cooperation and border friendship exchanges between the two armies.

He also affirmed that the Chinese Party, Government and armies attach great importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam.

The Chinese army is resolved to work together with the Vietnamese army to implement the agreement reached by the two Parties’ leaders, contributing to the healthy and stable development of the bilateral relationship and to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large, the minister said.

VNA