Thai Defense Force Commander Delegation Official Visit to Vietnam

A high-ranking military delegation of the Royal Thai Army led by General Songwit Nunphakdee, Commander of the Thai Defense Forces, paid an official visit to Vietnam from July 4 to 5.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Minister of National Defense presided over the welcoming ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense .

At the talks, the two sides discussed the world and regional situation, affirming that defense cooperation is one of the important pillars in the Vietnam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasized the important role of ASEAN in shaping and maintaining the regional security structure, promoting substantive cooperation among member countries, as well as between ASEAN and its partners.

Thailand highly appreciates Vietnam's "4 no's" defense policy, hoping that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to maintain and promote the agreed cooperation contents.

Vietnam consistently implements a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, and perseveres with the "four no's" defense policy.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam emphasizes its consistent stance of persistently promoting to resolve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); international and regional undertakings such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and supporting the early signing of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) in a practical and effective manner.

Vietnam values cooperative relations with ASEAN countries, including Thailand, for peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

The Vietnamese delegation expressed its delight at witnessing that the defense cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand has been promoted by both sides in recent times, becoming increasingly in-depth, practical and effective, especially in areas such as: Exchange of delegations at all levels; effective maintenance of cooperation mechanisms, including the Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism; human resource training; exchange of officers at all levels; cooperation between military branches and services; consultation and mutual support at multilateral forums and cooperation frameworks.

Regarding the direction of cooperation in the coming time, the two sides are requested to continue to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels; effectively promote existing cooperation mechanisms; promote substantive and effective cooperation between military branches and services, especially law enforcement forces at sea; cooperate in training and other potential areas; continue to closely consult and support each other at multilateral mechanisms, forums and international events organized by each side.

At the meeting, General Songwit Nunphakdee, Commander of the Thai Defense Forces, highly appreciated Vietnam's "4 no's" defense policy, hoping that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to maintain and promote the agreed cooperation contents. In particular, the focus is on defense industry cooperation, thereby contributing to making the Vietnam-Thailand defense cooperation relationship increasingly effective, in-depth and substantive.

Nguyen Trung Hieu

Source: https://nhandan.vn/doan-tu-lenh-luc-luong-quoc-phong-thai-lan-tham-chinh-thuc-viet-nam-post891731.html