Vietnamese and Japanese military officers and experts pose for a group photo (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA)’s General Staff, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Phuong Nam on August 21 hosted a visiting delegation of Japanese experts who are in Vietnam for a bilateral exchange of peacekeeping mission expertise.
Speaking at the reception, Nam highlighted the fruitful relations based on mutual respect that Vietnam and Japan have built up over the years. He said bilateral defence ties have been strengthened with practical achievements, particularly in the arena of the UN’s peacekeeping mission.
The Vietnamese official thanked the Japanese Ministry of Defence and stated that the respective Vietnam unit has spared no efforts in contributing towards the UN’s mission of peace and stability for the region and the world.
He informed his guests that Vietnam has sent 27 officers, one of them female, to join the peacekeeping activities in different UN missions since 2014.
Vietnam and Japan are running an exchange of expertise and experiences between their peacekeeping sapper units during August 20-24.
Through the exchange, Nam said he expects more support and experience-sharing from the Japanese side in terms of organisation, training, and equipment purchase in a bid to help the Vietnamese sapper unit ready itself for its peacekeeping mission at the end of 2019.
Nozomu Yamashita from the Japanese Ministry of Defence’s Bureau of Defence Policy, who led the expert delegation, said he hopes the professional exchange will assist the Vietnamese unit in boosting its capacity and preparation for the upcoming mission.
He expected the activity will contribute to reinforcing Vietnam-Japan defence ties in peacekeeping and their sapper units’ cooperation.
The Japanese official said he wants bilateral defence ties to cover other spheres such as underwater healthcare, search and rescue, aviation, and cyber security. –VNA
VNA
