The country’s defence diplomacy will continue to be implemented comprehensively in the future, Defence Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh said in Hanoi on August 9.

Gen. Thanh made the statement at a conference to review defence diplomacy in the 2008-2011 period and roll out a plan until 2013.

He said coordination between agencies in the army and relevant agencies of the Party and State will be promoted to create a combined strength to fulfil the task of defence diplomacy, contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for development and the protection of national interests, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as raising the position of the country and the army.

Gen. Thanh said that during the last period, works on defence diplomacy saw many important achievements.

The Defence Ministry has conducted bilateral diplomatic activities with neighbouring countries, as well as with countries in the region and others, helping build fine relations and creating borders of peace, friendship, stability and development.

The Defence Ministry successfully organised regional and international conferences and actively took part in regional and international events, helping to improve trust and the prestige of the army and the nation.

Addressing the conference, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that defence diplomacy activities contribute to protecting a peaceful and stable environment, national defence and security for development, as well as firmly protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, contributing to raise Vietnam’s prestige in the region and the world./.