Opening ceremony of the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam and Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of China will meet at Huu Nghi border gate and begin exchange activities. (Photo: Tuan Huy)

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, and Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of China, co-chaired exchange activities taking place in Lang Son province (Vietnam) and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China).

The 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange will begin in Guangxi Province (China) today, April 16, and take place in Lang Son Province (Vietnam) tomorrow, April 17.

The main activities in China are expected to include: a welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation; a visit to the Friendship Pass Tourist Area, taking group photos; a visit to the Smart Border Gate at the Friendship Pass Border Gate; a visit to Primary School No. 4 in Pingxiang City (China); and a visit to the Cultural Village in the border area.

The two Ministers will visit the Huu Nghi Quan Border Guard Company and plant a commemorative tree. Here, via online format, the two Ministers of National Defense will witness the 38th Joint Patrol between the Navies of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin. This is the first time the navies of the two countries have participated in a border friendship exchange event.

Activities in the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange will begin in Guangxi Province, China. (Photo: Tuan Huy)

In Vietnam, the main activities expected to take place on April 17 include: Welcoming ceremony for the Chinese delegation; planting friendship trees; visiting Dong Dang Primary School; attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inauguration of the multi-purpose building; visiting the Border Guard Station of Huu Nghi International Border Gate; visiting the Logistics Park of the Military Industry-Telecoms Group; holding talks and witnessing the signing of cooperation documents.

The Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program is an annual activity in the border provinces of Vietnam and China, which has been growing in both breadth and depth; its content is increasingly rich with many practical, meaningful activities, with high influence, important political significance, supported by leaders at all levels, agreed by the people of the two countries and interested by international public opinion.

Through each exchange, Vietnam-China defense cooperation has had positive developments, contributing to deepening the relationship between the two countries and the two armies.

In particular, this Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange program took place right after the State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping at the invitation of General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong (from April 14-15), contributing to the implementation of the common perception of the high-ranking leaders of Vietnam and China.

At the same time, the program aims to affirm the role of defense cooperation and the two Ministries of Defense in strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, promoting the building of a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance.

The event is even more meaningful as it is held on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 - January 18, 2025) and the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year 2025.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/khai-man-chuong-trinh-giao-luu-huu-nghi-quoc-phong-bien-gioi-viet-nam-trung-quoc-lan-thu-9-311246.html