The Ministry of National Defence held an online conference in Hanoi on July 3 to review its external relations in the first half of this year.

The event was attended by more than 250 delegates in 14 localities nationwide.

Chairing the function, Deputy Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh spoke highly of the results of the work over the period, saying that bilateral defence external relations continued to be enhanced while multilateral ones deepened.

Communications campaigns for the work and that of military attachés were done well, he added.

According to reports, during the period, the ministry’s agencies and units actively contributed their ideas to the Party, State and Central Military Commission on important issues related to national defence and security.

The relations helped promote Vietnam ’s friendship and cooperation with other countries, contributing to safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and interests as well as improving the country’s combat capacity and defence strength.

Vinh emphasised the need for special attention to countries which have traditional relations with Vietnam , especially the armies of ASEAN member states.

“We should maintain ties with our neighbours, thus contributing to building border areas of peace, friendship, cooperation and development,” he said.-VNA