Vietnam is grateful to the Russian and Chinese people and armed forces for their wholehearted assistance, both materially and spiritually, to its struggle for national independence.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made the statement in Hanoi on December 28 while receiving Senior Lieutenant General Bondarev Viktor Nhikolaevich, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, and Major General Wang Yisheng, Deputy Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army of China Air Force.

The officials are in Vietnam to attend the 40 th anniversary of the “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory.

At the reception for Nhikolaevich, Nhan expressed his belief that the visit will strengthen defence ties generally and cooperation between the air forces to match the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia .

Nhikolaevich affirmed defence cooperation, with particular focus on air force delegation exchanges and training cooperation, including the training of Vietnamese military officers in Russia , is important to the strategic partnership.

Meeting with the Chinese official, Deputy PM Nhan stressed that defence cooperation is important to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China .

He suggested the two countries’ air forces propose cooperation measures to improve the efficiency and quality of professional collaboration between both forces.

Wang expressed his belief that defence ties between Vietnam and China , and cooperation between their air forces will continue to be cemented in the future.

On the same day, the Russian and Chinese guests were received by Minister of National Defence, General Phung Quang Thanh, who suggested that the armies of Vietnam , Russia and China expand cooperation in various fields in the future.

He said that the Vietnam People’s Army has maintained good cooperative relations with its Russian and Chinese counterparts, especially in personnel training.