Hanoi (VNA) – The eighth border defence friendship exchangebetween Vietnam and China is scheduled to take place in Vietnam’s northernprovince of Lao Cai and its neighbouring Chinese province of Yunnan on September7 - 8.

The Vietnamese delegation will be led by Phan Van Giang, Politburomember, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister ofNational Defense. Meanwhile, Li Shangfu, a State Councillor and Minister ofNational Defense of China, will lead the Chinese side to the event, theVietnamese Ministry of National Defence told a press briefing in Hanoi onAugust 29.

On September 7, activities will take place in Vietnam, includinga welcome ceremony for the Chinese delegation at the Lao Cai InternationalBorder Gate, a border marker saluting ceremony, the planting of commemorativetrees, the launch of work on a friendship house of culture in Ban Phiet communeof Bao Thang district, a visit to and presentation of gifts to the Kim Dong PrimarySchool in Lao Cai city, and the talks between the two delegations.

China will host others on September 8, including a welcome ceremony for theVietnamese delegation at the Hekou International Border Gate, a border markersaluting ceremony, the planting of commemorative trees, a visit to a militaryunit/a school in the Hekou area, and a bilateral seminar.

Prior to the exchange, other activities will be organised,such as providing free health examinations and medicine for border residents,presenting scholarships to 50 students from poor families and heifers to disadvantagedhouseholds. The authorities will also review the twin relationship between border communities and the coordination between the border guard post ofthe Lao Cai International Border Gate and the Hekou border guard unit of Yunnan’sMengzi region.

Theministry said the eighth border defence friendship exchange aims to helpimplement the Vietnam - China joint statement on the continued promotion andintensification of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,issued during an official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong in November 2022, thereby helping strengthen mutual trust and cooperationbetween the two Parties, States, and defence ministries.

Itis also one of important diplomatic activities between the countries’ defenseministries this year, with a view to promoting the friendship, solidarity, andsubstantive cooperation between their border defense forces, administrations ofborder localities, and local residents so as to build a joint border of peace,friendship, stability, cooperation, and development, the ministry added.

The first exchange was held in Quang Ninh province of Vietnamand Guangxi province of China in 2014./.