A rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the Vietnam - India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2023 is organised on December 8. Photo: qdnd.vn

HÀ NỘI – Senior Lieutenant General Phùng Sĩ Tấn, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) on December 8 chaired a rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the Việt Nam - India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2023, which is scheduled for December 11 - 21 at National Military Training Centre 4.

Tấn also inspected preparations for and had a meeting with the steering committee on the organisation of the exercise on United Nations peacekeeping. 

Colonel Pham Mạnh Thắng, Director of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) under the Ministry of National Defence, said Việt Nam and India had closely coordinated for the exercise, adding that all participating forces are ready, as well as a simulation venue and necessary equipment are in place for the field exercise.

The participating forces will carry out exercises that are close to the actual operations and tasks of the engineering team and military medical team, including the deployment of an additional Level-1 field hospital joining United Nations peacekeeping operations, thereby improving professional capabilities and coordination capacity between engineering and military medical forces.

In addition to professional activities, VINBAX 2023 includes reception activities, sports exchanges, cultural and art performances, and tours of cultural establishments, contributing to enhancing understanding, friendship, and connection among the participants.

VINBAX 2023, hosted by Việt Nam, is the fourth UN peacekeeping exercise between Việt Nam and India and the second field exercise on peacekeeping between the two countries’ militaries.

After nearly 10 years of implementing the project on Việt Nam's participation in United Nations peacekeeping activities, Việt Nam has sent 786 officers and soldiers to perform tasks at UN peacekeeping missions. They have always promoted their roles and responsibilities in their assigned positions and have been recognised and highly appreciated by the UN and international friends.VNA/VNS