Vietnamese and Chinese Ministers of National Defense hold talks in Lang Son

As part of the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program, on the morning of April 17 in Lang Son City, General Phan Van Giang, Politburo Member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, held talks with Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of National Defense of China.

Attending the talks from Lang Son province was Mr. Hoang Van Nghiem, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation.

At the meeting, General Phan Van Giang expressed his sincere appreciation to the Chinese Minister of National Defense and the high-ranking delegation for attending the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 – December 22, 2024). The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense was especially pleased to receive and meet with 27 Chinese veterans and experts who had supported Vietnam’s revolution during this occasion.

During the talks, General Phan Van Giang highlighted that activities such as medical examinations, treatment, and medicine distribution for border residents; people-to-people and student exchanges; as well as young officers’ exchanges had contributed to realizing the “Vietnam–China Year of People-to-People Exchanges.” These efforts also laid an important foundation for the two sides to jointly safeguard the stable borderlines and markers, and promote cooperative development between the two countries. For the first time, the exchange program witnessed a joint patrol in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin between the two navies.

General Phan Van Giang emphasized that, based on the shared understanding of the two countries’ senior leaders, bilateral national defense cooperation has been continuously promoted and effectively implemented in recent years, affirming its role as one of the key pillars of the Vietnam–China relationship. Highlights include delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits; the active promotion of cooperation mechanisms; increasingly close coordination in land border management; proactive and effective joint efforts by the border guard forces and customs authorities in fighting crime and maintaining border security. Maritime border cooperation has also become more diverse and substantive, with the two navies and coast guards effectively maintaining bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Cooperation in political and party work, between military branches, coast guards, and in the field of defense industry has also been given due attention.

General Phan Van Giang reaffirmed that Vietnam always remembers and is deeply grateful for the heartfelt and sincere support of the Chinese Party, Government, military, and people, both during Vietnam's struggle for national independence and in its current national development. He also informed that, in early April 2025, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense had completed the renovation and restoration of Chinese Martyrs’ Cemeteries in Vietnam.

On the basis of the high-level leaders’ shared understanding — especially following the state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping — the two ministers agreed to focus on a number of key cooperation areas, including promoting delegation exchanges at all levels and maintaining the regular and effective operation of cooperation mechanisms; enhancing political and Party exchanges between agencies and units; strengthening cooperation between border military regions, navies, and coast guards; advancing coordination in land and maritime border management; and promoting cooperation in the defense industry.

During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on global and regional situations and issues of mutual concern. Minister Phan Van Giang stressed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, while diversifying and multilateralizing its external relations. Vietnam desires to be a friend to all nations, placing special importance on its friendly relations with neighboring countries, and firmly adheres to its “Four Nos” defense policy.

Regarding the South China Sea, Minister Phan Van Giang reaffirmed that Vietnam maintains a consistent and resolute approach to resolving disputes by peaceful means, adhering to the shared understanding of the two countries’ senior leaders, complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). He expressed hope that China and ASEAN would soon conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

General Phan Van Giang extended a cordial invitation to Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of China, to attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification of Vietnam (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025), which will be held in Ho Chi Minh city. He also invited the Chinese Ministry of National Defense to send a military contingent to participate in the parade and procession at the anniversary event — an occasion for Vietnam to express gratitude for the valuable support provided by China and other peace-loving nations in the cause of national reunification.

Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun thanked Minister Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for the thoughtful and well-organized program, and affirmed that this edition of the Vietnam–China Border Defense Friendship Exchange had been a great success.

The Chinese Minister of National Defense emphasized that holding the exchange program right after General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam underscored the determination of the two Parties, States, and peoples to jointly nurture the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and China, thus further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two ministers witnessed the signing of a framework document on establishing twinning-unit ties between the Huu Nghi International Border Gate Border Station under the Lang Son Provincial Border Guard Command (Vietnam) and the Pingxiang Meeting and Negotiation Border Post under the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Border Defense Force (China).