[Vietnamization: Military] Vietnam forges defence ties with US, Cambodia

Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang

Vietnam forges defence ties with US, Cambodia

Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang on October 26 held talks with visiting Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., Commander of the US Pacific Command. 

Vietnam News Bridge | 27 October 2016

During the talks, Giang spoke highly of the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US, Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) newspaper reported. 

He added that defence collaboration has thrived under the memorandum of understanding on national defence cooperation signed by the two countries in 2011 and the joint vision statement on bilateral defence relations inked in 2015. 

The officer called on the two countries to enhance their friendship and mutual understanding, and build trust for the sake of their people, as well as for peace and stability in the region. 

Harry B. Harris Jr. expressed his hope that his Vietnam visit will contribute to boosting bilateral defence ties. 

The same day, Lieut. Gen. Giang met with head of the military training department under the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, General Eth Sarath , who is visiting Vietnam. 

The two officers agreed that the friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia has developed across various fields, including national defence. 

Eth Sarath informed his host about outcomes of his working session with the Department of Schools under the General Staff of the VPA, saying the two sides had discussed training Cambodian military officers in Vietnam during 2011-2016. 

Both agreed on the need to boost collaboration on the training of military officers. 

The VPA’s General Staff will support the two departments’ efforts to strengthen their affiliation to serve national defence and security in each country, Giang said.-VNA