Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), hosted a reception for Major General Tony Davies, Vice Chief of New Zealand’s Defence Force, in Hanoi on August 2. 

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang (right), Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Major General Tony Davies, Vice Chief of New Zealand’s Defence Force (Source: qdnd.vn)

At the meeting, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Giang highlighted the fruitful defence collaboration between Vietnam and New Zealand in various fields, matching the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed by the two countries in 2013 and their comprehensive partnership. 

The defence ties have contributed to enhancing the friendship between armies of the two countries, he noted. 

In reply, Maj. Gen. Tony Davies applauded achievements in socio-economic development as well as national defence that the Vietnamese people and army have recorded in the Doi Moi (reform) cause. 

The guest noted his hope that Vietnam will reap more attainments in the time ahead. 

Earlier, Maj. Gen. Tony Davies held talks with Sen. Lieut. Gen. Pham Ngoc Minh, Deputy Chief of the VPA’s General Staff, during which the two sides reviewed the affiliation between the VPA’s General Staff and New Zealand’s army. 

They also discussed measures to step up the cooperation in the coming time, focusing on training, experience exchange and UN peacekeeping operations.-VNA