The Defence Ministry gave a reception of representatives from foreign embassies and military and national defence attaches in Hanoi on Dec. 17 to mark the 65th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 20th anniversary of All-People’s National Defence Day (Dec. 22).

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Khac Nghien briefed on the construction and development of the Vietnam People’s Army over the past 65 years.

He thanked embassies and military and national defence attaches from foreign countries working in Vietnam for the contributions to solidarity, friendship and cooperation in areas between Vietnam and their countries, including the cooperation in national defence.

Japanese self-defence attaches Colonel Hidemaro Ohto, who is also head of the foreign military and national defence attaché mission in Vietnam, congratulated the anniversaries of the Vietnam People’s Army and All-People’s National Defence Day.

He expressed his wish that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry continues developing close ties with defence ministries of all countries, which, he said, and is an element to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Celebrations to mark Vietnam’s military day were also held in South Africa and the Czech Republic by the Vietnamese embassies and Defence Attaché Offices in the countries./.