Moscow (VNA) – Chief of the General Staff of theVietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Gianghad meetings with senior military officers of Russia and the Philippines on thesidelines of the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS-8) onApril 24.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forcesand First Deputy Defence Minister of Russia Gen. Valery Gerasimov appreciatedthe Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence sending a high-ranking delegationto the MCIS-8.

He noted alongside the sound development of theVietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, bilateral defencecooperation has continually been reinforced in multiple fields.

2019 marks several important events in the twocountries’ relations, including 25 years since the signing of the treaty onbasic principle for the Russia-Vietnam friendship, the Russia Year in Vietnam,and the Vietnam Year in Russia. The year is also on threshold of the 70thfounding anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2020.

Therefore, the Defence Ministry and the GeneralStaff of the Armed Forces of Russia will step up activities to furtherintensify relations between the two countries and the two militaries, Gerasimovsaid.

For his part, Giang spoke highly Russia’shosting of the MCIS-8, noting that through this event, the stature of Russia,including its Defence Ministry, will be improved with regard to the settlementof international and regional issues.

He also proposed cooperation activities betweenthe two militaries be implemented as agreed by the Vietnamese and Russiandefence ministers at their meeting in 2018.

Giang also invited Gerasimov to pay an officialvisit to Vietnam. The Russian officer accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Also on April 24, the Chief of the General Staffof the Vietnam People’s Army met with Philippine Undersecretary of NationalDefence Lt. Gen. Cardozo M. Luna.


The Vietnamese officer said the sound relationsbetween the two states and militaries have been strengthened unceasingly invarious aspects. Particularly, both sides have always coordinated to wellresolve East Sea-related issues in line with the Declaration on the Conduct of Partiesin the East Sea (DOC).

He asked the Philippine Department of NationalDefence to share experience in counter-terrorism and natural disaster response,assist the Vietnamese Defence Ministry in English training for militaryofficers, and discuss cooperation in the areas of shared concern.

Luna said as a responsible member of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines considerscooperation with regional countries as a focus, and it attaches specialimportance to the ties with Vietnam.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will shareits experience in national development and military building with his country.

Echoing the Vietnamese side’s view on thesettlement of East Sea issues on the basis of international law, he affirmedthat the Philippine Department of National Defence respects and adheres to theDOC and will promote the building of a code of conduct in the waters betweenASEAN and China, thereby helping to build a region of unity, cooperation andprosperous development.

At the meeting, Giang also voiced his hope thatthe Philippine department will attend and support events that Vietnam will hostwhen it holds the ASEAN Chair in 2020, including the ASEAN Defence Ministers’Meeting, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and the ASEAN Chiefs ofDefence Forces’ Meeting.

The two officers also agreed on some exchangeand cooperation activities, showing the readiness to assist each other in thefields their countries has strengths in.-VNA