Defence cooperation – a pillar of Vietnam-Thailand ties: officer

ABO/NDO – Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister, highlighted defence cooperation as one of the important pillars of the Vietnam-Thailand relations.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang (left), Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister, and Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Thailand. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

At a meeting with Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Thailand, in Bangkok on November 23, Giang applauded Thailand’s important role in maintaining solidarity and development in the ASEAN.

The officer noted his belief that Thailand will successfully assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019 and urged the country to share its experience with Vietnam which will take over the position in 2020.

Giang expressed his belief that Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon will continue to create favourable conditions for collaboration in military and national defence between the two countries.

 

In reply, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon said Giang’s visit will contribute to consolidating and developing the bilateral strategic partnership. The host also said he wants to pay an official visit to Vietnam to discuss issues of shared concern.

 

While in Thailand, Giang held talks with Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, during which the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations, including young officers, and enhance cooperation in training and air and naval forces, while seeking collaboration possibilities between the two armies.

On this occasion, Giang visited the Counter Terrorism Operations Centre of Thailand and the Vietnamese Defence Attache Office in Bangkok.