President Tran Dai Quang told visiting Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu on 23 January that cooperation in defence and military technology continues playing an important role in Viet Nam-Russia relations.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) receives Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoyu (Source: VNA)

At a reception for the Russian minister in Ha Noi, President Quang spoke highly of the development of the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and high-level agreements reached in 2017.

Viet Nam always remembers Russia’s great support for the country’s past struggle for national liberation and current nation building and safeguarding, he said, affirming Viet Nam’s consistent policy of strengthening the partnership in all fields.

The Vietnamese leader hailed efforts made by the 2 Defence Ministries and Russian partners to implement the two countries’ priority tasks in 2017, thus helping foster the bilateral relations.

He took the occasion to wish Russia’s Presidential election 2018 a success.

Minister Sergey Shoyu briefed the host on the outcomes of his talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich, during which they discussed and agreed on measures to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

He said they had mapped out a plan for cooperation until 2020, with the focus on military technological and training cooperation and delegation exchanges to share experience in the defence field.

The minister noted that the 2 defence ministries held the third strategic defence dialogue at deputy ministerial level in Ha Noi in November last year. Every year, the Russian side provides scholarships for officers of the Vietnamese defence ministry.

The two ministries have also signed agreements on cooperation in UN peacekeeping activities and coordination in the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

President Quang appreciated the outcomes of the talks between the two ministers and expressed his backing for measures they had agreed.

He asked the 2 defence ministries to promote gained achievements and speed up negotiations towards the signing of a plan for defence cooperation during 2018 - 2020.

(Source: VNA)