Moscow (VNA) – The Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) willfurther enhance cooperation with Russian armed forces on the basis of mutualtrust and respect, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh said in arecent article.

The article was published in Russia’s Independence newspaper onDecember 13 on the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of the VPA(December 22).

The ambassador stressed that the anniversary offers a chance tolook back at the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, highlightingthe spiritual and material support from the former Soviet Union and present-dayRussia during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence, as well as thecause of national construction, reform and defence.

He stated that national defence is one of the important areas ofcooperation in the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, and the collaborationis developing strongly and effectively, especially in delegation exchanges,military technology and personnel training.

The two sides held more than 70 events connected to defencecooperation during the Vietnam Year in Russia 2019, and many mutual visits bymilitary delegations. Vietnam sent delegations to the 2019 International ArmyGames, the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security, the 2019 ArmyMilitary Technology Forum and multilateral events hosted by the RussianMinistry of Defence. A Vietnamese navy frigate visited Russia and took part for thefirst time in the Russian NavyDay paradelast July.

According to the Ambassador,both Vietnam and Russia back long-term, pragmatic and trustworthy defence tieson the basis of signed treaties and agreements, including the plan for defencecooperation and development for 2018-2020, while facilitating the signing ofnew cooperation deals, including the joint vision declaration on defencecooperation for 2019-2023.

In the article, the Ambassador also reviewed the development ofthe VPA since its foundation on December 22, 1944, and highlighted its gloriousvictories during the struggle against the French colonialists (1945-1954) withthe peak Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954 that paved the way for the signing ofthe Geneva Accords, restoring peace in Indochina.

Following the resistance war against the US from 1954-1975, thearmy continued to perform its international missions in Cambodia, helping theneighbouring country with national restoration and construction.

With a pool of about 450,000 officers and soldiers, along with 5million people on standby, the VPA has actively engaged in military cooperationwith neighbouring countries, other members of the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) and nations that have maintained a traditional friendshipwith Vietnam.

At the same time, the army has participated in regional andinternational institutions and organisations, as well as UN peacekeepingoperations, he said, stressing that the country’s defence policy is based onthe principles of equality and mutual respect.

Manh emphasised that Vietnam respects sovereignty, unity,territorial integrity and the interests of other countries in accordance with theUN Charter and international law, while requiring other countries to respectVietnam’s independence and national interests.

“While Vietnam resolutely fights against all invasion activities, thecountry advocates the settlement of disputes on territorial sovereignty in apeaceful way on the basis of international law,” the ambassador wrote.

Regarding disputes at sea, he said Vietnam has full historicalevidence proving its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa(Spratly) archipelagoes, but it is still committed to peaceful negotiations inorder to address disputes in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and called on relevant sides to seriously observe theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards reaching aCode of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)./.