Defence minister hosts Thai, Singaporean ambassadors

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich received the Thai and Singaporean ambassadors to Vietnam at the ministry’s headquarters in Hanoi on October 6.

General Lich and Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi noted the growing defence ties between the two countries, particularly since the signing of a bilateral defence cooperation agreement in 2012.

While leaders of the two defence ministries have had regular meetings bilaterally and at multilateral forums, many cooperation mechanisms have been set up. Practical results can also be seen in certain cooperation aspects, they said.

They agreed that bilateral defence cooperation should be further intensified to be on par with the Vietnam – Thailand strategic partnership for the sake of their people, the ASEAN Community, and the region.

At another meeting, Minister Lich and Singaporean Ambassador Catherine Wong highlighted fruitful cooperation between the two armies in such spheres as defence policy dialogues, meetings of the joint working group, visits at all levels, exchanges between young officers, navies’ affiliation, military medicine, personnel training, and information sharing.

Those activities have substantially helped to consolidate the countries’ friendship and mutual trust and understanding, they added.-VNA