On July 4, at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense, General Nguyen Tan Cuong - Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), Deputy Minister of National Defense - presided over the welcoming ceremony for General Songwitphak Nundee - Commander of the Thai National Defense Forces, and a high-ranking military delegation of the Thai Royal Army on an official visit to Vietnam.
After the official welcoming ceremony, the two armies held talks. At the talks, the two sides discussed the world and regional situation. Affirming that defense cooperation is one of the important pillars in the Vietnam - Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasized the important role of ASEAN in shaping and maintaining the regional security structure, promoting substantive cooperation between member countries, as well as between ASEAN and its partners.
Vietnam consistently implements the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, adherence to the "4 no's" defense policy.
Regarding the East Sea issue, General Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasized Vietnam's consistent viewpoint of persistently fighting to resolve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS 1982; international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Southern Sea Conduct (DOC); supporting and promoting the early signing of the Code of Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (COC) in a practical and effective manner.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasized that Vietnam attaches importance to cooperative relations with ASEAN countries, including Thailand, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
He also expressed his delight at seeing that defense cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand has been promoted by both sides in recent times, increasingly in-depth, practical and effective, and outstanding in areas such as: Exchanging delegations at all levels; effectively maintaining cooperation mechanisms, including the Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism; training human resources; exchanging officers at all levels; cooperation between military branches and forces; consulting and supporting each other at forums and multilateral cooperation frameworks.
Regarding the direction of cooperation in the coming time, General Nguyen Tan Cuong suggested that the two sides continue to increase delegation exchanges at all levels; promote the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms; promote substantive and effective cooperation between military branches and forces, especially law enforcement forces at sea; cooperation in training and other potential areas; continue to closely consult and support each other at multilateral mechanisms, forums and international events organized by each side.
At the meeting, General Songwit Nunphakdee, Commander of the Thai National Defense Forces, highly appreciated Vietnam's "4 no's" defense policy, hoping that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to maintain and promote the agreed cooperation contents.
The focus is on cooperation in the defense industry, thereby contributing to making the Vietnam - Thailand defense cooperation relationship increasingly effective, in-depth and substantial.
Vietnam's "4 no's" defense policy: Not participating in military alliances; not allying with one country to fight another; not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use territory to fight against another country; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.
