The Chinese and Vietnamese defence ministers meet on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

QUẢNG NINH — Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Phan Văn Giang hosted a ceremony to welcome Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe at Hoành Mỗ border gate, the northern province of Quảng Ninh, on Saturday, as part of the sixth Việt Nam-China border defence friendship exchange.

Earlier, Giang also attended an exchange in Dongxing City, China’s Guangxi Province.

The two ministers later cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Việt Nam-China friendship cultural house in Đồng Văn Commune, Bình Liêu District, Quảng Ninh Province, which was built by the two defence ministries.

Speaking at the event, Wei said the building of the house is one of the activities demonstrating the wish to uphold the bilateral friendship, which was founded and nurtured by Presidents Hồ Chí Minh and Mao Zedong, and generations of leaders of the two countries.

Minister Giang, for his part, said Việt Nam always attaches importance to developing fine neighbourliness and a long-standing relationship with China. Over the years, defence co=operation has become an important pillar in the Việt Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership.

He wished leaders of the Chinese defence ministry and the two countries’ authorities will create favourable conditions for their cadres, soldiers and peoples to join exchanges, and expressed his hope that the exchange will continue serving as a friendship bridge linking the two armies, authorities and peoples.

On the occasion, the two ministers presented gifts to residents in Đồng Văn Commune and a township in China’s Guangxi Province. — VNS