Minister of National Defence General Phan Văn Giang laid floral tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh’s Monument in Moscow. — VNA/VNS Photo

MOSCOW — Minister of National Defence General Phan Văn Giang is leading a high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of National Defence on a working visit to Russia to attend the 10th International Military-Technical Forum (Army-2024) and inauguration ceremony of a monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who joined battles to defend Moscow in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

During the visit from August 10-14, the Vietnamese defence chief will hold talks with his counterpart Andrey Belousov.

General Giang and the high-ranking delegation paid floral tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh’s Monument in Moscow, visited a building next to the Kremlin Palace where the late Vietnamese leader worked from 1923-1924.

The same day, the delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia where they were briefed by Ambassador Đặng Minh Khôi on the socio-economic situation of the host country, the life of the Vietnamese community and the embassy's work in the past time.

Addressing the meeting, General Giang spoke highly of the embassy's contributions in promoting the Việt Nam - Russia relationship, including bilateral defence cooperation. 

Regarding this working trip, Giang emphasised that on the basis of the good traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the Việt Nam - Russia defence cooperation continues to be effectively implemented in the spirit of "trust, practicality, efficiency, and comprehensiveness", in various forms such as exchange of delegations, especially high-level ones; training; military technology; collaboration within the framework of the Việt Nam - Russia Tropical Centre; political-military cooperation and coordination in international multilateral activities, at multilateral mechanisms and forums on defence.    

He hoped to continue receiving the support of the embassy as well as the ambassador in further strengthening the defence cooperation, thereby contributing more to the overall traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. — VNS