Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said yesterday that the Vietnamese Party, State and people\'s consistent policy was to attach much importance to further developing neighbourly relations with China, Laos and Cambodia for the benefit of the people of each country; and for peace, stability, co-operation and development of the region and the world.
Manh made the affirmation while receiving at separate meetings China\'s Minister of National Defence Liang Guanglie, Laos\'s Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Defence Douangchay Phichit and Cambodia\'s Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Defence Tea Banh who were in Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers\' Meeting Plus (ADMM+).
Manh warmly welcomed the high-level delegations from the three countries, which he said showed their active support of the country in its position as ASEAN Chair.
He appreciated the outcome of dialogue between the delegations and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence; expressing his pleasure at the developments of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic co-operation partnership, the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operative relation, and the Vietnam-Cambodia long-lasting neighbourly relationship, as well as the efficient co-operation between the Vietnamese military and its Chinese, Lao and Cambodian counterparts.
Defence ministers Liang Guanglie, Douangchay Phichit and Tea Banh spoke highly of preparations for the first ADMM+ meeting hosted by Vietnam\'s Minister of Defence, saying the meeting was an important forum for defence ministers and militaries of ASEAN countries and ASEAN\'s partners to exchange opinions, enhance mutual understanding and boost co-operation for the peace, stability and development of the region.
Minister Liang Guanglie expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam on the occasion of the Thang Long-Ha Noi 1,000th anniversary celebration, affirming that the two defence ministries and militaries always complied with high-level leaders\' common perception that the two countries should join hands closely and efficiently to develop and deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership on the basis of the motto "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, durable stability and future-oriented vision", and the spirit of "Good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners".
Minister Douangchay Phichit congratulated Vietnamese people for their great achievements in their renewal progress, saying he believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party, Vietnamese people would successfully implement the 10th National Party Congress\'s Resolution and organise the 11th National Party Congress next year.
He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, people and military for their assistance to their Lao counterparts, affirming that the Lao Party, State, people and military would continuously strive for the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation.
Minister Tea Banh said he was deeply impressed by the strong development of Vietnam and the great celebration of the Thang Long-Hanoi 1,000th anniversary, affirming that Cambodia\'s Ministry of Defence and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces would closely co-operate with their Vietnamese counterparts to contribute to developing the traditional friendship between the two countries.
Manh asked the ministers to send his regards to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Lao Peaople\'s Revolutionary Party cum President Choummaly Sayasone, and Cambodian King Sihamoni.
Source: VNS