Strengthening comprehensive cooperation with Thailand, including in the field of defence, is one of the priorities of Vietnam, affirmed Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich at a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in Bangkok on February 22.
Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (L) meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Strengtheningcomprehensive cooperation with Thailand, including in the field of defence, isone of the priorities of Vietnam, affirmed Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich at ameeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in Bangkok on February 22.
The minister is on an official visit toThailand from February 21-23.
Minister Lich told the Thai PM that theVietnamese defence ministry will continue working closely with the Thaicounterpart, contributing to the two countries’ strategic partnershipestablished in June 2013.
The minister expressed thanks to the ThaiGovernment for assistance to Vietnam in acquiring information about the gravesof Vietnamese fallen soldiers in Nong Khai province, and asked PM PrayutChan-ocha to instruct Thailand’s ministries and localities to continue to help Vietnamrepatriate the remains of those fallen soldiers. He also expressed his hopethat Thailand will provide information it has on Vietnamese servicemen who diedor went missing during the wartime.
PM Prayut Chan-ocha said Vietnam and Thailandare neighbouring countries with good relations and high mutual trust, whiletheir bilateral ties are developing across the fields, including in defence.
The two countries do not share land borderareas, but have maritime boundaries, he said, calling on the two sides to developtheir neighbourly relations and promote ties with other ASEAN countries tomaintain the bloc’s solidarity and central role.
He also suggested increasing the partnershipbetween the two armies and seeking new areas for cooperation.
The PM pledged to direct ministries and agenciesto step up coordination with Vietnam to address issues relating to fishermen,based on international law and the bilateral friendly relations.
Earlier the same day, Minister Lich held talkswith Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence PrawitWongsuwan, during which the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of visits,meetings of young officers, and cooperation between navy and air forces as wellas in training.
The two sides also agreed to organize deputyministerial-level defence policy dialogue and set up a hotline between the twodefence ministries.
They pledged to boost collaboration between marinelaw enforcement forces and actively seek affiliation in the fields of mutualconcerns such as cooperation between border management agencies, participationin the UN peacekeeping activities and humanitarian mine action.
Both sides vowed to actively consult and supporteach other at multilateral forums, especially within the framework of the ASEANDefence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM+.
The two ministers said they will urge relevantforces of their countries to work together to educate fishermen in respecting internationallaw and law in other countries.-VNA
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Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (L) meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha (Photo: VNA)
