Hanoi (VNA) – General Yamazaki Koji, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of Japan Self-Defence Forces(SDF), is paying an official visit to Vietnam from March 1 to 4.

On March 2, he paid a courtesy visit to GeneralNgo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam.

General Lich expressed his belief that the visitwill contribute to deepening the bilateral strategic partnership and create anew momentum for the cooperation between the Vietnam People’s Army and the SDFof Japan.

General Yamazaki Koji affirmed that the defencepartnership is one of the important activities that contribute to the bilateralfriendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan as well as to peace,collaboration, and development in the region and beyond.

Earlier the same day, Senior Lieutenant GeneralPhan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA)and Deputy Minister of Defence, held talks with the top Japanese SDF officer.

During the talks, the host and guest agreedthat the cooperation between the VPA and SDF has been carried out effectivelybased on the joint vision statement signed in April 2018 between the twodefence ministries on bilateral defence relations towards the upcoming decade.

The two sides have actively held exchanges andconsultations, as well as coordinated to open training courses and professionalexchanges in flight safety, aviation medicine, underwater medicine, aviationrescue, information technology, cyber security, and sappers’ participation in theUnited Nations peacekeeping operations.

The bilateral coordination and mutual support atmultilateral forums, especially the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEANDefence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) have been further strengthened.

Vietnam supports Japan’s initiatives on activitieswithin the framework of the Vientiane Vision to promote Japan-ASEAN defencecooperation.

The country also backs Japan’s active engagementin cooperation mechanisms that help maintain peace, stability and developmentin the region and the world.

The Vietnamese side suggested Japan expand the formsof training and increase the number of scholarships to Vietnamese students,especially in training in high technology and Japanese language. 

Vietnam invites Japanese senior officers toattend international courses at the Vietnam National Defence Academy andJapanese military students to learn Vietnamese.

The two sides agreed to step up cooperation in scientificand military medicine research, sharing of experience in natural disasterrelief, humanitarian aid, management of hospitals, and transfer of newtechnologies.

They will also implement collaboration inmilitary shipbuilding and goods production.

Vietnam asked for Japan’s help in trainingtechnical experts in defence industry and receiving high-skilledVietnamese workers to work in Japan.

Vietnam also hopes to learn from Japan’s experiencein state management of defence industry in the market economy and receiveassistance in building strategies to develop its peacekeeping force./.