Hanoi (VNA) – Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, received in Hanoi on April 23 Major General Akaash Johar, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department under India’s Ministry of Defence.
At the reception, Ngoc affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to the traditional friendship between two countries as well as the two armies, saying India has always been a close, reliable, and trusted partner of Vietnam.
The host emphasised that Vietnam–India defence cooperation has continued to expand and deepen in recent years, with growing practical results in various areas. These include delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level visits, maintenance of existing cooperation mechanisms, cooperation between military branches, training, UN peacekeeping; and mutual support at international and multilateral forums.
Highlighted the big potential for bilateral cooperation between the two countries' ground forces, Ngoc proposed the two sides focus to promote friendship, foster mutual trust and understanding, and enhance collaboration in key areas such as exchange of delegations at various levels, young officer exchanges, training and education, UN peacekeeping, information technology, military sports, and military medicine.
Major General Akaash Johar briefed his host on the outcomes of the fourth Vietnam–India Army staff officer consultation, expressing his satisfaction with the positive developments in defence relations between the two ministries of defence and the two ground forces in particular.
He affirmed India’s commitment to working closely with Vietnam to implement agreed-upon cooperation initiatives, thereby promoting a more practical, effective, and in-depth defence partnership between the two countries./.
