(VOVworld) – As part of an official visit to China, a senior Vietnamese military delegation led by Defence Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh held talks with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong on Saturday.

Defence Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh met his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan during an official visit to China. (Source: VNA)

On Friday, at the reception for the Vietnamese delegation, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao said China attaches great importance to cooperation and friendship with Vietnam which have been set up by the two countries’ generations of leaders.

Minister Phung Quang Thanh underlined the need for the two Parties, governments, and armies to preserve and develop the traditional relations, settle current differences especially in the context of tensions in the world and the East Sea.

Thanh suggested China lift its warning against travel in Vietnam to facilitate better conditions for the two peoples to exchange, develop economy, and increase friendship and mutual trust.

The ceremony to welcome

The same day, during talks in Beijing after an official welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation, the two defense ministers shared the wish to strengthen their neighbourliness as the two countries share mutual interests at their talks.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan noted with pleasure the status of cooperation between the two armies in line with a protocol signed in 2003, saying that this should continue by facilitating more visits, personnel training, and holding joint patrols on the Gulf of Tonkin for a borderline of peace, stability and development.

They agreed to enhance Party and political activities, with a focus on awareness raising campaigns and exchanges between young officers to raise mutual understanding between the two peoples. 

Minister Thanh urged that the army keep calm, exercise self-restraints and closely monitor activities at sea so as to avoid any possible misunderstanding, prevent clashes, as well as not to use or threat to use force when it comes to address the dispute. 

The guest also called for humanitarian treatment of fishermen, including helping those in distress at sea and not confiscating fishermen’s fishing equipment. 

At the end of the talks, both ministers witnessed the signing of a technical memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a direct communication line between the two ministries.