Vietnam, China to hold 8th border defence friendship exchange in September
The eighth border defence friendship exchange between Vietnam and China is scheduled to take place in Vietnam’s northern province of Lao Cai and its neighbouring Chinese province of Yunnan on September 7 - 8.
The press briefing held in Hanoi on August 29 to provide information about the 8th Vietnam - China border defence friendship exchange (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The eighth border defence friendship exchangebetween Vietnam and China is scheduled to take place in Vietnam’s northernprovince of Lao Cai and its neighbouring Chinese province of Yunnan on September7 - 8.
The Vietnamese delegation will be led by Phan Van Giang, Politburomember, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister ofNational Defense. Meanwhile, Li Shangfu, a State Councillor and Minister ofNational Defense of China, will lead the Chinese side to the event, theVietnamese Ministry of National Defence told a press briefing in Hanoi onAugust 29.
On September 7, activities will take place in Vietnam, includinga welcome ceremony for the Chinese delegation at the Lao Cai InternationalBorder Gate, a border marker saluting ceremony, the planting of commemorativetrees, the launch of work on a friendship house of culture in Ban Phiet communeof Bao Thang district, a visit to and presentation of gifts to the Kim Dong PrimarySchool in Lao Cai city, and the talks between the two delegations.
China will host others on September 8, including a welcome ceremony for theVietnamese delegation at the Hekou International Border Gate, a border markersaluting ceremony, the planting of commemorative trees, a visit to a militaryunit/a school in the Hekou area, and a bilateral seminar.
Prior to the exchange, other activities will be organised,such as providing free health examinations and medicine for border residents,presenting scholarships to 50 students from poor families and heifers to disadvantagedhouseholds. The authorities will also review the twin relationship between border communities and the coordination between the border guard post ofthe Lao Cai International Border Gate and the Hekou border guard unit of Yunnan’sMengzi region.
Theministry said the eighth border defence friendship exchange aims to helpimplement the Vietnam - China joint statement on the continued promotion andintensification of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,issued during an official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong in November 2022, thereby helping strengthen mutual trust and cooperationbetween the two Parties, States, and defence ministries.
Itis also one of important diplomatic activities between the countries’ defenseministries this year, with a view to promoting the friendship, solidarity, andsubstantive cooperation between their border defense forces, administrations ofborder localities, and local residents so as to build a joint border of peace,friendship, stability, cooperation, and development, the ministry added.
The first exchange was held in Quang Ninh province of Vietnamand Guangxi province of China in 2014./.
Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, Secretary General of the Steering Committee for Vietnam - China Bilateral Cooperation and head of the government-level negotiation delegation on border and territorial issues between the two countries, paid a working visit to Beijing on August 9-10.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the opening ceremony of the 7th China – South Asia Expo (CAS Expo) and the 27th China Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, on August 16.
Politburo member and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 25 for Li Zhiyong, chairman of China's national research committee for Party building.
The Border Guard High Command, in coordination with the Party Committee and authorities of the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, held a series of meaningful activities on August 25 as part of the 8th Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme.
Permanent Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party’s Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai has expressed a wish to enhance collaboration and exchange of delegations with Chinese ministries, agencies and localities in the fields of Party building, governance and economic cooperation.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
The press briefing held in Hanoi on August 29 to provide information about the 8th Vietnam - China border defence friendship exchange (Photo: VNA) 
