(VOVworld) – The Vietnamese and Chinese armies should enhance their comprehensive co-operation, especially border exchanges, to forge closer friendship and solidarity between the two nations, said Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh.

Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh (R) and his Chinese counterpart Chang Wan-quan plant a tree in Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province. (Photo: VNA)

At a Sunday meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wan-quan in Yunnan province, China, within the framework of the 2^nd Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange, General Thanh stressed the need to maintain peace, stability, and co-operation between the two countries, adding that the two armies should expand exchange activities and connections along their shared border.
Earlier, the two generals visited the Hekou border battalion, witnessed a joint patrol by Vietnam’s border forces serving at the Lao Cai International Border Gate and China’s Hekou border battalion, and planted a tree marking the event.
On this occasion, China’s Hekou border battalion and Vietnam’s Lao Cai Border guards signed a Memorandum of Understanding on their border defence friendship.