Vietnamese DM says Vietnam-China border meeting constructive

A border meeting between Vietnamese and Chinese militaries was creative, constructive and strategic, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh in Mong Cai Tuesday.

It was also of great significance to enhancing mutual trust, deepening border defense cooperation and benefiting the two peoples, he said.

The Vietnamese party, government and armed forces highly valued the Vietnam-China relationship, cherished the friendship between the two countries, and regarded China's development as Vietnam's opportunity, Thanh said when meeting Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Vietnam was willing to work with China to strengthen coordination and keep close communication within bilateral and multilateral defence and security frameworks, and make a new contribution to maintaining regional peace and stability, said Thanh, who met the Chinese delegation in Vietnam's northern border city of Mong Cai.

Qi said Thanh's attendance at the meeting showed the Vietnamese side highly valued the promotion of relations between the two countries and the two militaries.

The Chinese side was willing to make concerted joint efforts to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries on further developing their comprehensive strategic partnership, constantly enhance mutual trust, and create new ways for cooperation to lift bilateral military ties to a new high, Qi said.

Qi and Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minster Nguyen Chi Vinh attended a second-phase session of the first high-level border meeting between the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries on Tuesday at Mong Cai.

The Chinese delegation also visited Vietnam's border troops and watched joint patrols by border troops of the two countries.