He told the Vietnam News Agency that theprogramme has also helped to promote coordination between the two countries’border forces in dealing with issues regarding territorial sovereignty, border security,and border law compliance, and in organising activities to improve livingstandards of border residents as well as development in the border areas.
The defence activities in reality havecontributed to intensifying mutual trust between the two Parties and armies,and settling differences between Vietnam and China on the basis of mutualrespect, respect for international law and interest sharing, Vinh said.
The Deputy Minister said during the exchangeprogramme, the two sides engaged in practical activities, with the mostnoteworthy being a joint exercise on cross-border anti-terrorism and thebuilding of a border friendship cultural house.
The activities demonstrate the resolve ofVietnamese and Chinese Parties, States and armies to maintain a border of peaceand cooperation, and bring happiness and prosperity to their people.
Through their talks, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission andDefence Minister of Vietnam General Ngo Xuan Lich and Vice Chairman of theCentral Military Commission of China Senior Lieutenant General Fan Changlong agreedto expand and deepen the border exchange, from the defence ministerial level tomilitary zone and provincial levels, he said.
They also consented to step up exchangesbetween hamlets and consider border guards the centre force of the exchangeprogramme, apart from public security, youth and other social groups, accordingto the officer.
Minister Lichnoted his hope for increased border exchange activities in particular as wellas stronger defence cooperation in general, Vinh said.
The two sides are working on measures tosupport people in health care and natural disaster response, the officer said,expressing his belief that with the determination of the two Parties andarmies, these reached agreements will be realised.-VNA