Friday, June 1, 2007

Military ties with China key to peace: president


HA NOI — President Nguyen Minh Triet yesterday expressed delight over friendly relations between the Vietnamese and Chinese armies at a meeting with visiting Senior Lieutenant General Liang Guanglie, chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army.
During talks, Triet said he was pleased with the traditional friendly relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
"Such development is suitable to the interests of the two peoples, and profitable for peace, stability and development in the region and world," he said.
Triet applauded the outcome of the meeting between the two countries’ armies. He said the delegation’s visit would contribute to Sino-Vietnamese relations in accordance with the 16 word motto and the four good spirits agreed upon by the two countries’ leaders.
He emphasised that Viet Nam was pursuing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and openness, under which the country attached much importance in working with China to strengthen relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
Triet said the most important thing that the two Parties, Governments, peoples, and armies needed to do was to build trust and co-operate for mutual development.
Senior Lieutenant General Liang said relations between the two armies were an integral part in ties between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
As a result, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army attached great importance in co-operating with the Viet Nam People’s Army, said Liang.
Based on agreements with Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defence, the two armies would implement practical co-operation programmes to meet the demands in creating an invaluable relationship, said Liang.
Two armies talk
Lieutenant General Nguyen Khac Nghien, chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army, also received Senior Lieutenant General Liang yesterday.
Nghien told Liang that his visit strengthened solidarity and co-operation between the two peoples and armies according to the "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, durable stability and future oriented vision" guidelines, and the four good spirits of "Good neighbourliness, good comradeship, good friendship and good partnership". Liang thanked Nghien and other Vietnamese officers for a solemn and friendly reception for the Chinese delegation.
The two sides exchanged experiences in military development, and pledged to continue exchanging military delegations, co-ordinate sea patrol efforts and other issues of common concern for peace and stability in the region and world.
Earlier, Liang and his delegation laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.
He also paid a courtesy visit to the National Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Quang Thanh. — VNS

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