
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of National Defence, GeneralPhan Van Giang on March 15 received outgoing Thai Ambassador to VietnamNikorndej Balankura who came to bid farewell at the end of his term.
At the reception, Giang highly valued the ambassador'scontributions to promoting the Vietnam - Thailand strategic partnership in thefields of politics, diplomacy, defence-security, economics, trade, investment,tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
He added that the contributions help strengthen strategic trustbetween the two countries, towards upgrading their relations to a comprehensivestrategic partnership.
Regarding defence cooperation, Giang emphasised that over thepast time, the two sides have attached importance to and maintained promotingcooperation in many fields including maintaining defence policy dialogue andconsultation mechanisms, exchanges between military forces and branches,training, security, and maritime safety.
Giang thanked the diplomat for his efforts in deepening the friendship and trust between the defenceministries and armies of Vietnam and Thailand, especially in implementing theenhanced strategic partnership between the two countries during the2022-2027 period.
He asked the ambassador to convey hisinvitation to the Minister of Defence of Thailand and Thai defense enterprisesto visit Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of theVietnam People’s Army, the 35th anniversary of the All People's NationalDefence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024), and an international defenceexhibition in 2024.
The Thai diplomat thanked Giang and the defence ministry’s agencies for attention to and favourable conditions for him to complete his term in Vietnam and emphasised that defence cooperation has become a pillar andfoundation to promote other cooperative relationships between the twocountries.
He noted that in his new position, he will keep promoting thecooperation between the two countries, particularly in defence./.