HÀ NỘI — Minister of National Defence General Ngô Xuân Lịch has praised the official visit by Defence Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Song Young-moo, saying it would create stronger changes in bilateral national defence. 

During talks with Minister Song yesterday, Lịch said the visit would facilitate the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation through 2030 signed in April 2018 between the two defence ministries. 
It would also help maintain good ties between the two countries and in particular its armies, contributing to strengthening political trust between the them, he said. 
Lịch, who is also a Politburo member and Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission, expressed support for denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula and confirmed the importance that Việt Nam attaches to stable and long-term ties with the RoK. 
Song, said the RoK appreciated Việt Nam’s position and central role in ASEAN as well as the Southeast Asia. 
Việt Nam was given importance and considered a bridge for the RoK in launching the New Southern policy in the region, he said, adding that during President Moon Jae-in’s Việt Nam visit in March this year, both sides committed to more cooperation. 
Both sides agreed to bolster bilateral defence cooperation in the near future in human resources training, national defence industry, and also to search for the remains of servicemen missing in action, and addressing post-war bomb and mine consequences. 
They also discussed issues regarding regional and global security. 
Concluding the talks, the two defence minister witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on logistics support in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, natural disaster humanitarian and support between the two defence ministries. 
Minister Song Young-moo leaves Việt Nam today. — VNS