Lt. Gen. Pham Tuan (R) and Maj. Gen. Vichtor Gorbatco who together made a historical space flight in July 1980 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar reviewing 70 years ofVietnam – Russia defence training cooperation took place in Hanoi on December30.
The event was part of a plan to build a set of documents on 70years of bilateral defence collaboration commissioned by the Vietnamese DefenceMinistry to honour effective contributions by leaders of the two countries andarmies to building and consolidating the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategicpartnership.
Participants discussed achievements and invaluable lessonslearnt over the past seven decades, thereby affirming the great and effectivecontributions of training cooperation to the cause of national defence anddevelopment, especially the building of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Col. Doan Xuan Bo, Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Armynewspaper, said Vietnamese leaders have affirmed that the Vietnam – Russiatraditional friendship is an invaluable asset that they and thepeople are determined to preserve and uphold, thus laying a foundation todeepen bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
As the first Vietnamese and non-Soviet Asian person to fly tothe space, Lt. Gen. Pham Tuan recalled Russia’s comprehensive and effectivesupport to Vietnam, especially in the training of military pilots.
A highlight in recent years was the Russian army’s assistance toVietnam during the International Army Games, thereby helping Vietnam win goldsin Group 2.
Delegates affirmed that the development of comprehensivestrategic partnership with Russia is a priority of top importance of Vietnam,in which defence cooperation is a pillar and training coordination a brightspot./.
