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Jun 07, 2016 / 14:46

President Quang met with French and Indian defense ministers

On June 6, State President Tran Dai Quang had separate meetings with French and Indian defense ministers Jean-Yves LeDrian and Manohar Parrika on the occasion of their official working visits to Vietnam.

 
President Tran Dai Quang received French Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
President Tran Dai Quang received French Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

At the meeting with the French Minister, the State President expected that his visit will make crucial contribution to enhancing the Strategic Partnership relations between the two sides in national defense. The leader stressed that Vietnam always considers France a leading partner in its foreign policy.

Vietnam will do its utmost to promote the relations with France in all fields and advocate France’s efforts in maintaining regional peace, stability, cooperation and development, he said, adding that the nation will become a connection between France and ASEAN.

Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian highlighted the increasing status of Viet Nam in the world and the nation’s role in establishing the ASEAN Community. Informing his host about the outcomes of his talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister, the French guest affirmed that the two sides will continue launching inked agreements and enhancing high-ranking delegation exchanges in the future.

Speaking of the two countries’ defence cooperation in fields, the President suggested the two defence ministries enhance their collaboration in order to make it a prime example of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, particularly in military activities, producing equipment for military and civilian purposes, information exchanges and at multilateral forums.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, in reply, said his own visit aims to strengthen the bilateral affiliation in national defence and security as well as the strategic partnership established in 2013, and prepare for President Francois Hollande’s visit to Vietnam in this September.

Informing his host about the outcomes of his talks with Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, the French guest said both sides looked into several technical agreements between the two defence ministries to be inked during President Francois Hollande’s upcoming Vietnam visit, in a bid to advance defence ties. He also affirmed France’s stance on handling maritime disputes peacefully through dialogues between concerned parties and in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 
 
President Tran Dai Quang met with Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrika
President Tran Dai Quang met with Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrika
While receiving Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrika, President Tran Dai Quang said the Vietnamese Party, State and people always highly appreciate India’s support in national defence, including personnel training and the transfer of technologies and military equipment. The leader noted the consensus on orientations to forge bilateral defence cooperation – one of the important pillars of the Vietnam-India strategic partnership.

President Tran Dai Quang regarded the Indian Minister’s visit to Viet Nam as a force to accelerate the two nations’ relationship not only in politics, economics and diplomacy but also army forces. The Party and State of Vietnam always regard India as a traditional friend and a leading partner, and treasures its relationship with the country, he said. President Tran Dai Quang asked the minister to convey his invitation to Indian President Pranab Mukheriee to pay an official visit to Vietnam.

Mr. Manohar Parrikar hoped that in the future, the two sides’ defense cooperation will be boosted as declared in the Joint Vision Statement on Viet Nam-India Defense Cooperation for the 2015-2020 period and the defense cooperation will become one of crucial pillars in Viet Nam-India Strategic Partnership. He expected that the two nations’ Strategic Partnership relations will be further strengthened for the benefits of their people and the international and regional peace, stability, cooperation and development.